Pune: Baner-Balewadi residents on Wednesday joined corporators and officials from various agencies for a joint inspection of pending Metro and allied infrastructure works in the area, pressing for their completion before the monsoon onset to prevent inconvenience to the general public.At the inspection, attended by Maha Metro, PMC and MSEDCL officials, the residents and corporators panned the chaotic state of the roads, pointing to the near-total absence of space for pedestrians, heaps of debris dumped along work zones and dangerously narrow carriageways that had turned daily commute into traffic nightmares.Many alleged a glaring lack of coordination among Metro, PMC, MSEDCL and MNGL officials, insisting that unplanned execution had worsened the situation on the ground. Balewadi resident Sai Thopte said the footpaths were in a dilapidated state and had been taken over by illegal vendors. “The roads akso lack proper maintenance. There is an urgent need of dedicated parking lots to avoid traffic jams near Metro stations,” Thopte said.The Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro line cuts through the Baner-Balewadi belt and includes six elevated stations in the area. While officials said all stations were nearing completion and would be operational in the coming months, the residents questioned the repeated delays and demanded firm deadlines for finishing the remaining works that continued to disrupt daily life.Corporator Mayuri Kokate, who participated in the inspection with the residents, said the exercise was aimed at jolting the authorities into action. “Metro deadlines have been extended at least twice. The residents are demanding relief before the monsoon sets in. We have told officials to accelerate the work,” Kokate said.She said several residents flagged unfinished power cable-laying works and debris left unattended at multiple locations. “We sought clear and specific timelines from the authorities,” she added.At least 100 residents took part in the inspection, voicing frustration over civic issues that have reached a tipping point. The absence of traffic wardens at crucial chowks, worsening congestion during peak hours, also came under sharp criticism. “It has been decided to hold a review meeting after April 15 to assess work progress,” Kokate said, warning that patience among residents was wearing thin.Baner resident Rahul Palshikar said while the joint inspections by corporators, residents and officials were a positive step, the residents expected tangible results from such visits. “The works have been delayed considerably. Many locations in the Baner-Balewadi area experienced severe waterlogging during recent the rain. We do not want to face similar challenges during the monsoon.”
