Pune Citizens Walk In The Rain To Save Vetal Tekdi From Proposed Road Project
Pune, 15th April 2023: The Vetal Tekdi Action Committee (Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti) organized a long march from Vetal Baba Chowk to German Bakery on Senapati Bapat Road in Pune today to protest against the proposed Balbharti to Paud Phata Road, which includes two tunnels at Vetal Hill, popularly called Vetal Tekdi.
Thousands of citizens, including NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, former BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni, and Congress leader Ramesh Bagwe participated in the ‘Save Vetal Tekdi Walk’, with people of all ages joining the protest. Even rain did not dampen their spirit and they walked in continuous rain.
During the march, protestors chanted slogans such as “Save the lungs of Pune, save the Vetal Tekdi! Save Pune! Cancel the project on Vetal Tekdi! Don’t break the Vetal Tekdi, don’t put life in danger”.
The protestors were determined to bring attention to the issue and stop the proposed project.
Vandana Chavan emphasized that hills and cycling are the identities of Pune city, and the hills are like lungs for the city. Therefore, there should not be any kind of project on Vetal Hill. She further stated that they would fight against this until the end.
Medha Kulkarni also voiced her opposition to the proposed project, highlighting that the citizens would not even use 15% of the road. She emphasized that the hills of Pune city should be preserved and that there should be no road or tunnel project on Vetal Hill.
The protestors’ primary concern is that the proposed project would harm the natural habitat and environment of Vetal Tekdi, causing harm to the flora and fauna in the area. Therefore, the protestors are urging the government to cancel the project and save Vetal Hill.
The Vetal Hill Action Committee is confident that their voice will be heard and that the government will take the necessary steps to preserve the natural habitat of Vetal Hill.
PMC has planned 3 projects on Vetal Tekdi:
1. Balbharati-Paud Phata road across Law College hill slope
2. Two tunnels with exits at Panchavati, Sutardara and Gokhalenagar
3. HCMTR – elevated ring road of which 2 km is aligned on Law College hill slope
Citizens’ demands to PMC and political representatives are:
1. Scrap proposed BalBharati-Paud Phata Road and two tunnels projects from the DP.
2. Declare Vetal Tekdi as a Natural Heritage Site and a No Development No-Construction zone.
3. Instead of spending money on roads and tunnels, PMC should strengthen public transport by increasing frequency and connectivity of PMPML bus routes during peak hours.
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