3 min readPuneSep 14, 2025 11:37 PM IST
First published on: Sep 14, 2025 at 11:37 PM IST
DEPUTY CHIEF Minister Ajit Pawar, who visited the Keshavnagar-Mundhwa -Hadapsar area near Pune to inspect the development projects on Sunday, had to face residents’ fury over constant traffic congestion in the area and lack of other civic amenities like adequate water supply, quality roads and proper transport service.
On his part, Ajit Pawar instructed officials to take all necessary steps to fullfill citizens demands and at the same time asked them issue “stop work” notices to builders or contractors found violating the norms.
A woman urged him to adopt the style of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who used to quietly show up at a spot to check the prevailing traffic situation
Even as he was issuing instructions to officials about the under-construction Kharadi-Keshavnagar bridge, he had to face a volley of questions from irate residents. They complained about the traffic nightmare as well as water shortage in residential societies in Mundhwa and Keshavnagar.
“We have high hopes from you… Just like how Manohar Parrikar used to survey the traffic situation, you should also see for yourself the chaos on the roads…You should visit the spot without informing the officials,” the woman resident said.
Ajit Pawar said the administration would make all efforts to resolve the issues. The woman then asked “We are faced with the question whether to stay in this area or leave the area.”
Responding to the complaints, Ajit Pawar said, ”This area is facing the problem of jurisdiction between PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) and PMRDA (Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority). The situation becomes complex as there are multiple government agencies controlling the area. PMRDA is give permission to construct building while PMC is providing civic amnenities. In fact, the PMC should get the right to sanction building permission and provide amenities.”
Pawar emphasised on the need for all government agencies to work in coordination to resolve the issues faced by citizens.
When contacted, Naval Kishore Ram, Municipal Commissioner, Pune, said, ”The deputy chief minister had come to inspect the ongoing works in Mundhwa-Keshavnagar area… Some citizens raised the issues, which are being looked into. As for the delayed bridge work, it will be completed by December. The delay is due to the jurisdiction problem… We are responsible for ensuring civic amenities in all PMC areas. But the building permission is with PMRDA. Discussion is going on regarding handing over the building permission aspect to PMC.”
The PMC chief said the Deputy CM has asked them to issue ”stop work” notices to builders and contractors if they are found violating the norms. “What the Deputy CM meant to say is that if the builders do not adhere to their contract or the promise in the agreement signed with the civic body, then action should be take against them like issuing stop work notices. This will force the earrant ones to take appropriate steps lest they lose their contractors,” Ram said.
The PMC commissioner said that Pune as a whole had urban mobility issues.
“At some places, there are missing links, in other places, roads are missing, DP roads have not been made…There is a need to take them up in a campaign mode,” he added.
Pawar emphasised on the need for all government agencies to work in coordination to resolve the issues faced by citizens (Express Photo) 
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