Pune: Pune Metro’s ambitious project to enhance the city’s public transport system is now under scrutiny after safety hazards emerged along pedestrian pathways in Ramwadi. Electrical cables intended to power advertisement boards on metro poles have been left exposed instead of being buried underground, putting pedestrians at risk.
The metro network, extending across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, has permitted private contractors to install advertising boards on poles supporting elevated metro tracks. While these advertisements generate revenue, the exposed high-tension electrical cables running through the pedestrian crossing near metro pillars numbered 417 and 418 on Nagar Road in Ramwadi have raised serious safety concerns. These cables carry high voltage, and experts warn of the potential for short circuits or electrical fires, which could cause injuries or even fatalities, especially as this area is heavily frequented by residents, students, and elderly citizens.
Ramwadi is a busy locality with two Pune Municipal Corporation schools nearby, along with several offices, hospitals, and banks. The pedestrian pathway at the main entrance of Ramwadi village is a crucial crossing point for daily commuters. Yet, the placement of these live cables in such a vulnerable spot exposes citizens to danger, as tripping or slipping over the cables can lead to accidents.
Local residents and social activists have demanded immediate action from Pune Metro to either remove the cables or lay them underground to ensure public safety. Complaints regarding this issue have already been submitted to the Managing Director of Pune Metro.
Pune Metro officials revealed that the responsibility for installing advertisement boards and the associated electrical wiring lies with the private contractors awarded the tenders. The tender for the route from Civil Court Pune to Ramwadi is valued at ₹1.25 crore annually, and the route from Civil Court Pune to Pimpri-Chinchwad at ₹1.37 crore per year. However, the administration admits to lacking clear information about the total number of advertisement boards installed and has shifted the accountability for the exposed cables to the contractor. The administration has assured that orders will be issued to the contractor to rectify the issue promptly.
