‘Pune’s has changed from walkers’ paradise to vehicle nightmare’

In an interaction with the Hindustan Times editorial team, senior citizens of Athashri apartments, Magarpatta city came together on July 16 to discuss the gripping civic issues of the city, particularly those related to senior citizens and the long term solutions for it.

One of the most prevalent problems was the condition of traffic in the city. “Pune has ceased to be a city for the people and has transformed into a city for vehicles. The roads are not being designed for pedestrians, but for vehicles,” shared Shabnab Poonawala, member of mohalla committee of model colony. 

An architect by profession, she elaborated how citizens and civic authorities are required to work together to solve the problems of the city. “Most people don’t even know the parameters of designing the roads, and they do not recognise it when those parameters are not followed by the civic authorities in their areas. Awareness is crucial here. But in addition to that, citizens should get more involved in reforming the city and push the authorities to work better,” she added. 

 “The civic authorities are also citizens and they also need to own up and make the needful reforms. Not just on paper, but in action,” she said. 

Lakshmi Roy, the former chairperson of mohalla committee in Salunke Vihar, however, called out for immediate reforms in the municipality. “The PMC authorities are supposed to represent us and not the political parties. There is hardly any transparency. Unless there is a thorough reform in the very structure of the municipal corporation and their work flow, no long-term substantial change is possible in the city,” she added.