Pune: Commuters across various parts of the city are raising safety concerns over widespread streetlight failures, which have made night-time travel increasingly hazardous. Many have observed that lights remain off even in areas where major infrastructure work is underway, making it increasingly difficult for bikers and walkers to navigate the roads.The primary grievances raised by commuters include abrupt failure of streetlights and significant delays in repairs. Tejas Kulkarni, a resident of Bopodi, recently travelled from Lohegaon Airport toward Khadki and noted that the entire stretch from Sangamwadi Chowk toward Deccan College was plunged into darkness.“The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has started road digging ahead of Sangamwadi Chowk for a grade separator and flyover,” Kulkarni said. “However, none of the barricades have safety lights, and the streetlights were off. The situation is extremely risky, especially for bikers who struggle to navigate the construction zone in the dark.”The issue is widespread, with frequent travellers in Fergusson College Road and Sinhagad Road areas reporting similar problems. Viraj Jadhav, a resident of Shivajinagar, criticised the administration’s slow response time.“Fergusson College Road is a high-traffic stretch that should be well-lit throughout the night. Instead, there are dangerous dark patches where pedestrians struggle to walk on the footpaths,” Jadhav said. He warned that the situation could turn disastrous with the onset of the monsoon. “The administration should deploy area-wise squads to monitor street furniture and ensure immediate repairs,” he added.Amol Adhav, who operates an autorickshaw at night, said stretches like Sinhagad Road, Baner Road, and Range Hills frequently suffer from malfunctioning lights. He highlighted that the Sinhagad Road and CoEP flyovers have seen multiple disruptions in recent months. “The biggest problem is that there is no dedicated mechanism for citizens to raise complaints for urgent repairs,” Adhav said.Responding to the concerns, officials from the PMC’s electrical department stated they would seek reports from local deputy engineers and conduct inspections at locations experiencing frequent failures.“Streetlights often go off due to damage to power supply lines or poles caused by ongoing construction,” a PMC official said. “Most key streets in the old city areas are equipped with streetlights and high-mast lamps at major intersections. In the recently merged suburban pockets, we are currently in the process of installing new poles.”
