Pune Civic Delays Stall Underground Power Project

• Santosh Soundankar seeks intervention from Energy Minister Meghna Bordikar

Pune : A key infrastructure project aimed at strengthening the city’s power supply under the Centre’s RDSS scheme is facing delays in Pune due to lack of excavation permissions from the Pune Municipal Corporation.

Shiv Sena district organiser and member of the Pune Monitoring Committee, Santosh Soundankar, has urged Maharashtra Energy Minister Meghna Bordikar to intervene and convene a meeting with civic officials to resolve the issue. He has requested that necessary directions be issued to expedite approvals.

In his representation, Soundankar stated that the project to lay underground power cables in PMC limits has been stalled despite repeated correspondence by Mahavitaran with civic authorities. The delay raises concerns of power disruptions during the forthcoming monsoon if the work is not completed on time.

In contrast, similar works are progressing smoothly in the jurisdiction of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, where permissions have been granted. However, within PMC limits, procedural hurdles continue to impede progress.

He further pointed out that the municipal corporation permits excavation only during March and April, with a ban effective from May 1. As such works cannot be carried out during the monsoon, the current window is critical for completion.

Soundankar has called for urgent intervention to ensure timely execution of the project and to avoid inconvenience to
citizens due to potential power outages.