Women flag civic issues

VOTER VOICES | Residents demand accountability as Pune heads for municipal polls early next year

- Ankit Shukla

With the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections scheduled for Jan 15, 2026, voices from the ground are growing louder against years of civic apathy, with women voters flagging persistent local issues and making it clear that their support will hinge on performance and commitment rather than political promises.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal (FPJ), Jayashree Pattewar, a housewife and resident of Narhe, said rapid population growth in the area had not been matched by civic facilities. "Narhe has seen massive population growth, but civic facilities have not kept pace. Roads are riddled with potholes, garbage collection is irregular, and the main issue is the shortage of water supply. Most of the time, water is cut earlier than scheduled. No long-term solutions have been provided yet," she said.