While Wagholi continues to grow as one of Pune’s rapidly developing areas, the ground paints a very different story. The Awhalwadi Chowk vegetable market, located in the central part of Wagholi, is in a state of utter neglect plagued by poor hygiene, lack of infrastructure and civic apathy.
Every day, hundreds of residents throng this market for their daily vegetables. However, instead of a clean and organised space, they have to make their way with pothole-ridden, muddy roads, heaps of rotten vegetables and an unbearable smell, especially during the monsoon season.
Despite repeated assurances about sanitation and development, the area has seen no substantial improvements. Locals complain that vendors dump unsold and rotting vegetables on the roadside, turning the area into a breeding ground for diseases.
"It’s impossible to walk through this market without covering your nose. Is this the face of a growing city?" asked Smitha Kothari, a frustrated resident.
Another resident, Dev Prakash, added, "The complete lack of basic amenities, like no designated parking, leads to daily traffic congestion in and around the market. Unregulated stalls and encroachments worsen the already chaotic environment. Ironically, this market lies near the bus stand, a gateway to Wagholi for many outsiders. No proper drainage or garbage disposal system is in place. It's an unsanitary condition for both vendors and customers."
Manjusha Tai, a vegetable seller, said, "Absence of public toilets is forcing people to defecate in the open. Also, for the washroom, we have to struggle a lot. For women, it's even worse."
Local residents and market vendors are now urging the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and elected representatives to take immediate steps to revamp the market. Proper paving, sanitation facilities, waste management and a structured parking area are long overdue demands.
A PMC official, on the condition of anonymity, said, "The designated officer has been changed, that's why the condition is like that. Recently, a new sanitary officer has been appointed, and he has taken charge, so in the coming days, the cleaning will be done. The area is always cleaned, but people have no civic sense, they dump the garbage on the roadside. Also, we collect fines and many awareness drives were also conducted in the area."
