Long-Awaited Work To Remove Dangerous Power Lines On NIBM-Undri Road Begins After 5 Years Of Complaints

The Pune Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) have finally started the work to remove electric power transmission from the centres of the road as it was posing a threat to commuters on NIBM-Undri Road. Residents had been complaining for almost five years.

“After relentless follow-ups over the past five to six years and with the cooperation of the administration, the long-pending work of relocating the dangerously hanging high-voltage power line and its tower—situated on the bridge between Dorabji Paradise and Lavanya Restaurant—has finally started. The estimated timeline for completion is approximately one and a half months. Once finished, this will provide a safer and more efficient transportation route for all residents of Mohammad Wadi and Undri,” said Ashok Mahendale, a resident of the NIBM area.

“After extensive efforts, we have finally been able to navigate the tender process and bring it to fruition. Despite numerous challenges along the way, persistent efforts and collaboration with the authorities have helped overcome these obstacles, allowing the work to begin. This project has been allocated a budget of Rs 1.82 crore,” added Mahendale.

The Free Press Journal published a report highlighting the issue on November 18, 2024, titled ”Newly widened road turns hazardous, PMC faces ire.”

We waited for this for the past five years

Rajesh Namase, a tech blogger and resident of Raheja Reserve, NIBM, said, “We waited for this for the past five years. It took a lot of effort to wake up the authorities. This work remained unattended and unsolved due to a lack of coordination and communication between MSEDCL and PMC. In these five years, a lot of accidents happened, and we are happy to have finally gotten approval to get rid of the dangling wires and this power transmission. But if action had been taken years ago, it would have been much better for us. The removal of the power transmission will also save 700 meters of distance. So it’s a welcome change.”

MSEB PRO Nishikant Raut said, “PMC has done the road widening work. It was their responsibility to relocate the electric installation before the widening menace. Based on their application for approval, we provide an estimate to the concerned department for relocating the electrical poles and other equipment. However, now the issue is resolved and the delay is not from our side.”

Manisha Shekatakar, chief of the electricity department at PMC, said, “We have started the excavation work of removing the electric tower, and it will take another four months to get the work completely done. The residents are relieved now. This project took time because we didn’t get the estimates from MSEDCL.”