Pune: Sunil Tingre Promises “Tanker-Free” Kharadi with Completion of Bhama Askhed Water Project

Kharadi, 13th November 2024: Despite decades of inclusion in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Kharadi continues to face severe water shortages. Local residents have long struggled with an over-reliance on water tankers. However, MLA Sunil Tingre, the NCP-BJP-Shiv Sena grand alliance (Mahayuti) candidate, has assured citizens that the Bhama Askhed water project will soon make Kharadi a “tanker-free” zone.

Addressing the issue during a padyatra through the Kharadi area, MLA Tingre highlighted the failure of previous local representatives who held positions of power over the last 30 years. “The current water crisis is a result of ineffective leadership, despite their years of service as corporators, standing committee chairmen, and MLAs. Kharadi still relies on tankers for water. This will change once the Bhama Askhed project, which was approved in 2012, is fully operational. During my tenure, we have completed the ₹380 crore project, and I assure you that Kharadi will soon be tanker-free,” Tingre stated.

Residents voiced their frustrations regarding the area’s persistent water issues, to which Tingre responded with confidence that the project, which was delayed for various reasons, would be the key to resolving the long-standing problem. He criticized previous leaders for allowing the tanker business to flourish at the cost of residents’ needs. Tingre also mentioned his success in making nearby areas like Dhanori and Vidyanagar tanker-free, promising the same for Kharadi in his next term.

Among the local leaders and activists present during the padyatra were Sachin Satpute, Shailajit Bansode, Swapnil Pathare, Darshana Pathare, Jyoti Javalkar, Anil Navale, and other prominent figures from the community.

In addition to addressing water concerns, MLA Tingre discussed plans to improve traffic flow in Kharadi and neighboring areas like Chandannagar, Wagholi, and Vadgaonsheri. He noted that the removal of the BRT system in certain areas had already significantly reduced congestion and that further improvements are underway.

Tingre assured residents that funds have been allocated for new flyovers, including grade separator flyovers at Kharadi Bypass and Shastrinagar Chowk. Additionally, he emphasized that the Shirur-Pune flyover will be extended to Ramwadi, further easing traffic woes in the region. He expressed confidence that these projects will make major city roads signal-free, greatly improving daily commutes for residents.