Pune: Citizens’ Needs Ignored And G20 Beautification Prioritized – Citizens Forums
Pune, 17th January 2023: G-20 delegate route areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have seen a long list of superficial cover-ups and beautification taking place, all out of public funds, the Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forums has stated. In contrast, tax-payers are denied basic services. Citizens have wanted PMC to rectify errors that they have committed for which citizens have to suffer.
The government had sanctioned Rs 45 crore to the PMC to spruce up the city for G-20. “Has everyone forgotten that this is still public funds whether it comes from the State or PMC budget?” Qaneez Sukhrani,the Convenor of the Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum, questioned.
“The Indian Presidency’s theme G20 ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ emphasizes resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability in infrastructure and underlines equitable growth. This topic was more suited to be first addressed inclusively within India itself – a land of diverse people, religions, languages, castes, creeds, and food. The two-day workshop in Pune is supposed to be on various aspects of infrastructure investment, financials, promoting quality in infrastructure and identifying innovation in infrastructure, financing cities for tomorrow, and many topics, mostly on commercial aspects. Hence, it would not be surprising if very soon the Govt announces major sops for the realty and construction sector,” Sukhrani stated.
During the last two months, the following has been noticed on the G-20 delegate route while ignoring other parts of the city:
300m sample patch of Mula-Mutha under RFD from Sangamwadi to Bund Garden
Beautification at Rs 2.5 crore of 60 chowks, junctions, islands, underpasses, and flyovers
ASI spruced up archaeological sites, including Shaniwarwada
Painting of streetlight poles and installing new ones
Clean-up and painting of underpasses
Plantation in huge pots on dividers
Replacing old trees with new shrubs in road dividers
De-congestion of 20 chronic traffic congestion spots on Traffic Police recommendation
Shifting bus stops
Mastic asphalting to cover up potholes
Repairing footpaths and dividers
Flattening of much-needed speed-breakers
Fixing traffic signages
Thermoplastic paint marking on zebra crossings
Pedestrian crossings where there were none
Re-painting medians and dividers in blue and white
Hurried work on three sewage treatment plants
Cycle rally and Pedestrian Day
Metro working alignment, although work by Metro has been stopping
Red carpet welcome at spruced-up Pune Airport
Drive undertaken against illegal posters, flexes, banners, and sky signs on bus stops, public toilets, flyover pillars, walls, subways, MSEDCL feeders, and street light poles. PMC has ignored action even though Contempt
22) Petition is being heard on this topic at the Bombay High Court
23) Buntings are put up hurriedly to hide dirty nullahs, illegal encroachments and slums, decrepit buildings, garbage dumps
Ignored aspects:
Repairing potholes and cracks
Stoppage of water supply on Thursday is a perennial feature
Violations by slums
Illegal constructions
Dumping of garbage
Free flow of waste in nullahs & drains
Legal and illegal hawkers on footpaths
Footpaths took over by various encroachments
Footpaths crowded with destitute, homeless dwellers
Junctions crowded with beggars
Metro mess on Nagar Road
Metro pillar at Tarkeshwar Bridge, which has narrowed traffic flow from four to two lanes
Grabbing the footpath by Metro at Bund Garden near ICICI Bank
Removal by PMC of 70 odd traffic signposts on Airport Road to 509 chowks without logic
VIP Airport Road littered with garbage
Barring and banning the general public from SPPU for two days
Crumbling footpaths in all parts of the city
“It is sincerely hoped that the State and the ULB start looking at citizens’ needs first,” Sukhrani said.
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