Pune: Work On Palace Orchard Slope In Mohammedwadi Expected To Conclude By Year-End
Anaum Shaikh
Mohammedwadi, 11th September 2023: In the aftermath of the unfortunate accident on May 21, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) took temporary measures to address safety concerns at Palace Orchard Slope.
However, work on reducing the slope’s steepness is yet to begin. The sharp incline of the road accelerates vehicles, often requiring sudden braking that can lead to accidents, injuries, and even casualties.
Brajesh Kumar, Vice-President of the Undri Residents Association (URA), stated, “Following the accident, residents of Undri-Mohammedwadi held a protest demanding the slope’s correction. PMC has installed speed bumps, but if a vehicle’s brakes fail, it could still pose a severe risk to lives, as demonstrated by the accident. It is essential for PMC to decrease the slope angle and widen the road by addressing encroachments to alleviate traffic congestion. Road planning should also consider the predicted population growth over the next 20-25 years.”
Col. Deepak Kumar (retd), a participant in the protest, added, “We believe that this area has been neglected for a long time in terms of cleanliness and road infrastructure. Therefore, concerned citizens organized the protest, marching from Kad Nagar Chowk to Palace Orchard Slope, asserting our rights as taxpayers of the city. The protest captured PMC’s attention, prompting a faster response. We recently learned that Vikas Dhakane, Additional Municipal Commissioner of PMC, visited the site and ordered the removal of encroachments and road widening. We are pleased with these developments and feel that things are finally turning in our favor.”
In response, Gautam Gavande, PMC’s engineer overseeing the project, explained, “We have a plan ready and will commence road work as soon as the rain subsides. We will also implement traffic diversion measures. Our goal is to complete the project by the end of this year.”
However, Tabrez Ansari, the owner of Hashmi Bakery on Palace Orchard Slope, expressed concerns, saying, “We have received a notice from PMC regarding road widening. While we have been paying taxes for years, we haven’t been informed about any tax refunds or provided an alternative location. Initially, we were informed of a 20-foot road widening, which would already affect a significant portion of our property, but now we have received a notice for 80 feet road widening, which would mean losing our shop and other neighboring settlements.”
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