Pune: Hadapsar Residents Voice Concerns Over Persistent Traffic Congestion and Infrastructure Issues
Pune, 5th November 2024: The Hadapsar constituency, a critical link to the Pune-Solapur and Pune-Ahilyanagar highways, has been grappling with chronic traffic congestion for several years, leaving residents frustrated and demanding action. Along with traffic woes, the area faces other pressing infrastructure challenges, including drinking water shortages in newly incorporated villages, narrow roads, inadequate sewage systems, and inefficient garbage disposal. As the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections approach, these concerns have become a hot topic among voters.
Located in the rapidly expanding eastern part of Pune, Hadapsar’s population has surged due to the inclusion of nearby villages within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits. Areas such as Mundhwa, Keshav Nagar, Sade Satra Nali, Katraj, Phursungi, and Uruli Devachi have been recently added, further straining existing infrastructure. To address some of these issues, the Maharashtra State Government has ordered the creation of independent town councils for Uruli Devachi and Phursungi, and this process is currently underway.
The region is home to numerous IT companies, including those located in Magarpatta City and Amanora Park Town. The main road through Hadapsar serves as a crucial route for commuters heading to and from Kharadi, which worsens traffic during peak hours. Additionally, both the Pune-Solapur Highway and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (Pune Pandharpur Palkhi Road) pass through the constituency, leading to constant bottlenecks, especially during the pilgrimage season. Students, professionals, and local workers are particularly impacted by the daily traffic gridlock.
Traffic congestion in Hadapsar has been a recurrent topic of discussion in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly sessions, but residents say little has been done to resolve the issue. They express frustration over the delayed completion of key projects like the Katraj-Kondhwa road expansion, which they believe would significantly ease traffic if completed. Instead, projects like the controversial garbage facility have been prioritized, causing further dissatisfaction among locals. Many residents feel that Hadapsar is frequently neglected when it comes to infrastructure funding.
Beyond traffic, the area also struggles with inadequate sewage systems, rampant encroachments, illegal constructions, narrow roads, and a shortage of parks and playgrounds. Residents in newly incorporated villages have long demanded a separate municipality for the eastern part of Pune, but they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously by public representatives.
As the election season heats up, these unresolved issues are expected to weigh heavily on the minds of Hadapsar’s voters.
