Paying Taxes But No Facilities: Mohammadwadi Residents Slam PMC Over Lack Of CCTVs And Safety Measures

Pune’s rapidly growing Mohammadwadi area has failed for over a decade to install basic CCTV surveillance despite collecting over ₹200 crore in property and development taxes from the locality, claim the residents, calling it a complete collapse of administrative accountability.

Fed-up citizens have now renewed their demand for immediate installation of 50 state-of-the-art CCTV cameras across high-risk areas, accusing both the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and city police of "criminal negligence" and ignoring repeated pleas for public safety infrastructure.

Residents have specifically identified four key stretches in need of urgent surveillance: Anandvan Chowk to Lavanya Veg Restaurant; SM Ghule Chowk to Marvel Sangria; SM Ghule Chowk to Kingston Atlantis Amenity Plot; and Trebeca Mall Chowk to Elena Housing and the adjacent forest zone. These routes are either poorly lit, sparsely monitored, or adjacent to dense forested areas, making them vulnerable to chain snatching, vehicle theft, and other suspicious activity.

Jaymala Dhankikar, a prominent citizen activist, delivered a scathing rebuke of the authorities. “This is not just failure — this is betrayal. We’ve paid over ₹200 crore in taxes, and we don’t even have CCTV cameras to show for it. What exactly is the PMC doing with our money? Decorating Mantralaya while ignoring citizens?” she asked.

Dhankikar added that the community has submitted more than 25 letters and emails over the last 10 years to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Home Department, the PMC Commissioner, and the Police Commissioner. “Not one has responded with action. Not one. Are they waiting for a woman to be assaulted before they act?” she said. “If anything happens now, the PMC and police will be directly responsible and we will make sure this goes to court and media at every level.

'A tax-paying colony without rights'

Other residents have echoed Dhankikar’s frustration. Ashok Mehendale, a social worker, said, “They have turned Mohammadwadi into a tax-paying colony without rights. You see towers going up every day, but not a single rupee of that development shows up in security or basic amenities.”

Hussain Shaikh, a resident of Ganga Kingston, added, “What good is a Smart City tag if women can’t walk after sunset and police have no eyes on the ground? Installing cameras now is not a favour — it’s a decade-late necessity.”

Sadik Khan, a resident of Ganga Florentina, pointed to the increasing risk near open forest stretches. “Even the forest patch behind Elena Housing is turning into a haven for anti-social elements. Residents, including children and seniors, walk there daily. If cameras aren’t installed immediately, any incident will be blood on the authorities’ hands,” he warned.

Citizens have a long history of documented requests — over 25 formal complaints, RTI applications, and detailed petitions submitted since 2015. These included location maps highlighting high-risk zones, calls for mobile police units, and even proposals to co-fund surveillance infrastructure through citizen groups. Despite this, the PMC and police have remained silent, and no action has been taken.

With security concerns intensifying, residents are now demanding immediate installation of 50 high-definition CCTV cameras equipped with night vision. They are also calling for real-time monitoring by local police, monthly performance audits of the cameras, and a publicly declared timeline for complementary infrastructure like lighting and patrolling. Additionally, they want ward-level accountability hearings involving PMC and local police officers.

Issuing a final warning to the authorities, Dhankikar stated, “This is the last time we’re asking nicely. From next week, if cameras are not installed, we will protest at PMC headquarters and file a PIL in the Bombay High Court. You cannot take ₹200 crore from people and then ignore their right to basic safety.”