Water Supply and Traffic Remain Top Concerns for Kharadi Residents in 2026

As 2026 begins with a new PMC administration in place, the residents of Kharadi and its surrounding neighbourhoods continue to grapple with a familiar set of civic challenges. Despite being one of Pune's most commercially vibrant IT corridors, the area's basic infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with its explosive population growth over the past decade.

Water: The Perennial Crisis

Perhaps no issue frustrates residents more than the irregular water supply. Large swathes of Kharadi, particularly newer residential colonies along the bypass and in the Chandan Nagar extension areas, receive PMC water supply only 2-3 times per week. Many housing societies have come to depend on private water tankers as a regular supplement — an added cost of ₹800-1,200 per tanker that residents bear despite paying municipal taxes.

"We pay the same property tax as residents in Koregaon Park, but they get daily water and we get tankers," said a resident of a major housing complex near Kharadi bypass. The water distribution network in the eastern corridor has not been expanded proportionally to the number of new residential projects that have come up in the last five years.

Traffic Gridlock: Getting Worse, Not Better

The Kharadi-Mundhwa road continues to be one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in Pune's eastern suburbs. During peak hours (8:30-10:30 AM and 5:30-8:00 PM), the 2-kilometre stretch near the river bridge can take 20-25 minutes to cross. The combination of IT park commuters, construction vehicles from ongoing projects, and the lack of alternative routes creates daily gridlock.

The proposed flyover on this stretch has been in the planning stage for over two years with no visible progress. Meanwhile, new residential towers continue to rise, adding thousands more vehicles to already overwhelmed roads.

Roads and Footpaths

Internal roads in Chandan Nagar and Vadgaon Sheri remain in poor condition. Many residential lanes lack proper surfacing, and footpaths — where they exist — are often encroached upon by vendors or parked vehicles. Pedestrian safety, particularly for school children and elderly residents, is a growing concern.

Garbage Management

While PMC's waste collection has improved in some parts of Kharadi, Chandan Nagar's older residential areas still face irregular collection schedules. Open garbage spots near the main road and market area remain an eyesore and a health hazard, particularly during monsoon months.

What Needs to Change

The new PMC administration has an opportunity to address these long-standing issues. Residents' associations across Ward 4 have submitted a joint memorandum listing priority demands: reliable water supply, road resurfacing, the Mundhwa flyover, improved street lighting, and systematic waste management. Whether these demands translate into action in 2026 remains to be seen.