Residents, professionals, and businesses in the Swargate-Tilak Road area of Pune faced a major inconvenience when the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) unexpectedly cut down overhead internet cables without prior notice. As a result, many residents lost their internet and broadband connections, causing disruption to their daily lives and businesses.
Advocate Mukund Bakre, a tax consultant, expressed his frustration at the sudden loss of internet connectivity. He witnessed PMC teams pulling down the cables from Tilak Chowk area without any warning, leading to a halt in his broadband internet service. Other shop owners and residents in the vicinity faced similar network and internet issues, affecting their work and daily activities.
Many of those affected were professionals who relied heavily on the internet for their businesses. Farooq Shaikh, who runs a laptop store, lamented the loss of business due to the disrupted internet service. Similarly, Sunil Rawade, another businessman, criticized the PMC for removing the cables abruptly without informing the residents, causing severe inconveniences for everyone.
Even language trainer Yogani Garbhe, who conducted online classes, faced significant disruption as she was unable to hold classes for her foreign students for several days. The lack of prior notice from PMC added to the frustration of those affected.
The PMC defended its action by stating that the removed cables were illegal and posed safety risks. The cables were not authorized and had been placed on PMC electricity poles without permission or payment of charges. The PMC has removed such cables from an 18-kilometer stretch in the Swargate-Tilak Road area, with the exception of the Doordarshan cable network on special request.
While the PMC justifies its actions as part of preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city, the sudden and unannounced removal of cables has caused significant inconvenience and losses for residents and businesses. The PMC should consider better communication and coordination with residents to avoid such situations in the future.
