The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department has imposed a fine of ₹5,000 on Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) after a complaint by social activist Jaymala Dhankikar from the NIBM Annexe area highlighted serious safety concerns. The complaint was addressed to PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The issue pertains to an excavation carried out by MNGL nearly a month ago outside the Ganga Kingston Society in the NIBM Annexe area. The company dug up a section of the footpath to lay gas pipelines but allegedly abandoned the site without restoring the footpath or installing any safety barricades, signage or lighting around the dangerous zone. As a result, the exposed ditch became a hazard for pedestrians, especially parents waiting with their children for school buses.
Several people reportedly tripped and fell at the site, including elderly citizens and women. “Even in the morning rush, parents were forced to wait on the road due to the blocked and unsafe footpath. Many have fallen, and yet no action was taken until the complaint was escalated,” said Dhankikar.
The problems created due to the open ditch include:
· Obstruction of pedestrian movement, forcing people to walk on the road
· High risk of tripping, especially in low-light conditions
· Breeding ground for mosquitoes due to stagnant water during rains
· No safety barricading, warning signs or reflectors to alert pedestrians
· Inaccessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities
After the issue was flagged, PMC carried out patchwork repairs at the location, but Dhankikar criticised the effort as substandard. “The footpath work done after receiving a rap on the knuckles was pathetic. It was not in line with civic norms, and the safety standards followed are highly questionable,” she said.
She also expressed disappointment over the minimal fine imposed. “This is not just about ₹5,000. Citizens’ lives are being put in danger. A fine of at least ₹5 lakh must be imposed, and a notice should be issued to MNGL for endangering public safety,” Dhankikar demanded. She added that both the PMC’s health department and MNGL displayed an unprofessional attitude toward public welfare.
Experts have long warned about the dangers of unregulated digging in urban areas. Open trenches and incomplete civic works not only pose physical hazards but can also lead to serious health and safety issues. Water accumulation in such ditches can become breeding grounds for vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria, while blocked footpaths push pedestrians into traffic, increasing the risk of road accidents.
While the PMC’s fine is seen as a token action, residents and activists are demanding stricter accountability and long-term solutions. They are urging authorities to monitor utilities like MNGL more closely and enforce stricter penalties for non-compliance with safety protocols.
“This issue should be a wake-up call for all agencies. Public safety cannot be compromised in the name of development,” Dhankikar added.
A PMC senior official said, “We have collected the fine of ₹5,000 based on the complaint, and we will continue to take strict action against the defaulters.”
