Pune: Young Army Brat Sahil Uttekar Enters PMC Elections as Independent from Ward No. 3
Pune, 30th December 2025: Twenty-five-year-old entrepreneur Sahil Uttekar has filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Ward No. 3 for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections, positioning himself among the youngest contenders in the civic polls.
Uttekar, a mechanical engineering graduate from the Army Institute of Technology (AIT), Pune, is the founder of an electric cycling startup focused on sustainable urban mobility. If elected, he would be one of the youngest corporators in PMC history.
An “army brat” and son of a retired Indian Army officer, Uttekar said his upbringing in military cantonments across the country shaped his views on discipline, cleanliness and civic order. He cited deteriorating infrastructure, poor road conditions and waste management issues in civilian areas of Pune, including localities near the Lohegaon Air Force Base, as key reasons for entering the electoral fray.
Ward No. 3 has a sizeable population of serving and retired personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. Uttekar said the area should reflect higher standards of civic management, particularly in terms of road quality, sanitation and public safety.
His decision to contest the elections was also influenced by civic activism on social media highlighting infrastructure and governance gaps in Pune. Uttekar said he wanted to move beyond online criticism and contribute directly to local governance.
Despite running a cycling-focused startup, Uttekar pointed out that inadequate cycling infrastructure and unsafe roads make it difficult to commute by cycle in many parts of the city, affecting students, professionals and families alike.
As an independent candidate, Uttekar said his focus would be on improving road maintenance, strengthening waste management systems, developing dedicated cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, and encouraging greater participation of youth and defence families in civic decision-making.
The PMC elections are expected to witness heightened interest this year, with several young and first-time candidates entering the race amid growing public concern over urban infrastructure, cleanliness and sustainable development in Pune.
