Residents and members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday staged a unique protest against the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) negligence in repairing potholes on the Warje Ramnagar to Shivne canal road.
The party workers and locals performed a pooja at a pothole in Ramnagar, Laxmi Chowk, highlighting the dangerous condition of the stretch that has troubled commuters for months. The protest aimed to draw attention to the hazardous road conditions that have caused significant inconvenience.
Frustrated residents voiced their concerns over the poor state of the road. Amol Raje, a local resident, said, “Even after repeated complaints went unheard, we finally protested against bad roads on the occasion of Dussehra. It has been more than a month since these roads have remained in the same condition. We urge the authorities to repair potholes as commuters are facing a lot of issues.”
An AAP worker added, “The roads in this area remain filled with potholes. Commuters have to face many problems. During the rains, several accidents occurred. Despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken. We staged a protest today to draw the attention of the authorities.”
The residents gathered around the pothole, conducting a pothole pooja by adorning it with rose petals and flowers. Approximately 20–25 residents took part in the ritual. While similar satirical protests have occurred in other neighborhoods before, this event stood out for blending traditional ritual with civic outrage.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Free Press Journal, a PMC official stated, “The municipal authorities have ramped up efforts to patch potholes citywide.”
This protest serves as a reminder of the urgent need for infrastructure maintenance to ensure the safety and convenience of Pune’s commuters.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/video-pune-residents-perform-pothole-pooja-on-dussehra-to-protest-pmc-negligence
