Pune: The face of Pimpri Chichwad Metropolitan City and especially the areas of Wakad, Kivale, Tathawade and Hinjewadi in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation limits has changed rapidly in the last few years. Due to IT parks, educational institutions, new colonies and commercial complexes, the population in this area has increased tremendously. Lakhs of IT employees, students, local residents, as well as the working class travel through this area every day.

But even after such a large-scale urbanization, there is a picture that the basic infrastructure works in this area have remained incomplete. Among them, the service road from Wakad to Kivale is the biggest pending issue. Due to the incompleteness of this road, the residents have to face traffic jams, risk of accidents, waste of fuel and time and mental distress every day. This issue is directly affecting the daily lives of the citizens, and the demand for the immediate completion of this work by the administration is now gaining more momentum.

The main problems of the Wakad to Kivale service road are as follows:

1. Half an hour of rain – two feet of water

When the monsoon starts, this road literally becomes a crematorium. Even if it rains heavily for just half an hour, 2 to 3 feet of water accumulates on the road. Vehicles get stuck, people cannot walk on the road and walking through rainwater is life-threatening. The capacity of the sewers and drainage system is completely inadequate and dilapidated. Even though citizens often raise their voice on social media about this problem, the administration has only paid attention to it for inspection.

2. Traffic jam – a daily hassle

Traveling on the service road between 8 am and 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm is a hellish journey. Servants, students, rickshaws, school vans, private vehicles, buses—all on the same road. Due to the narrow width of the road, encroachment and lack of traffic planning, there are traffic jams for hours. Accidents also occur frequently. This is not only an example of the inefficiency of the transport system, but also an example of the lack of planning by the administration.

3. PMRDA starts work in Hinjewadi, but NHAI ignores

PMRDA is doing some work on the main roads of Hinjewadi Phase 1, 2, 3 for traffic and rainwater management. But the Wakad-Kivale service road comes under the jurisdiction of NHAI, and no concrete action has been taken there till date.

4. Lack of political will

In the last few years, many local MLAs, MPs, party leaders have held meetings and made statements on this issue. But all this has remained just a formality and media. The ruling party just comes and takes photo sessions with the leaders and leaves, but the road is still the same. The leaders' recommendations have become just a political stunt, they do not seem to have a serious approach to the problems of the people.

5. Lack of bus stops - Travel with your life in your hands

There is no concrete facility of S. T., PMPML or private bus stops on this service road. In heavy rain and in the sun, commuters have to stand on the side of the highway. This greatly increases the chances of accidents. Many women, the elderly and children feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

6. Where is the work stalled?

The work of this service road is stuck at many levels such as “long-term planning, fund approval, cemented structure design, land acquisition”. But till date, there is no transparency in all these things. No concrete plan has been published yet.

‘Service closed’ road instead of service road!

The work of the Wakad to Kivale service road is a prime example of “administrative apathy + political fraud + lack of funds”. This problem is not just of one road, but highlights the failure of infrastructure in the entire Pimpri Chinchwad area. Everyone is looking forward to when the “service road” from Wakad to Kivale will be completed. Otherwise, this road will not remain a "service road" but will forever be known as a "service closed road", a regret that is taking deeper root in the minds of the citizens.