‘Pune has failed as a city’: Techie criticises city’s traffic and infrastructure, internet weighs in

A Pune-based techie’s post criticising the city’s traffic, infrastructure and public transport has sparked a discussion on social media, with several users agreeing that the city’s quality of life has worsened in recent years.The post sparked a discussion with many sharing similar concerns about Pune’s traffic, pollution and infrastructure. (Unsplash/Representative image)In an X post, Ninaad Pai, who said he was born and raised in Pune and still owns houses there, wrote, “Pune has failed as a city” and added that it “genuinely hurts” him to say so.”The traffic is pure, unending hell,” Pai wrote, while criticising politicians and bureaucrats over what he described as repeated promises without solutions to the city’s problems. He also took aim at the Pune police and traffic authorities, accusing them of focusing on social media posts while residents continue to struggle with traffic and road conditions. “Actual roads look like a war zone every single day,” he said.(Also Read: Woman explains why she chose Bengaluru over Pune: ‘Not just for my career, but for myself’)’No real public transport, lawless driving’Pai further said that the Riverfront Development (RFD) project is a “catastrophe” that is worsening the urban heat island effect. He also alleged that trees are being felled and left to rot, while the city lacks adequate public transport. “There is no real public transport. Nothing serious is even planned. Just more roads, more digging, more flyovers – all of which do one thing: invite more cars and more chaos,” he wrote.Pai also criticised the driving culture in the city, saying both locals and migrants contribute to “lawless driving” and road rage. “And the people. Native or migrant, doesn’t matter. Everyone drives like they own the entire street. Pure lunacy. Zero accountability. Never admit a make. Never improve. Never simply say ‘sorry’ and move on,” he said.”I’ve seen lawless driving in this city since I was a kid in the passenger seat. It was never good. But at least back then people didn’t turn every small inconvenience into full-blown road rage,” he wrote.He added that the situation has taken a mental toll on residents. “These days just thinking about stepping outside takes a real mental toll,” he said, before asking others living in Pune whether they were “completely done with this place”.(Also Read: Pune techie says manager ‘fought’ to protect him from extra work during notice period: ‘God I am lucky’)How did social media react?The post prompted several users to share similar concerns about Pune’s traffic, pollution and infrastructure.One user wrote, “So very true.Pune has lost it’s beauty. Day day it’s becoming overcrowded and getting polluted. One way the infrastructure is developing, the other way no measures has been taken the government to control the traffic and the public transportation as well.””True… it has turned into nightmare and worst part is no one care… no citizen, no opposition and NO one in power,” commented another.”No authority has control on anything. Pathetic roads,garbage all over the city, zero traffic management,regular failure of traffic signals at peak hours,poor law and order maintenance and millions of ppl with no basic traffic sense,” wrote a third user.”Yess, Pune has changed a lot in last 10-15 years.. just like you said Pune has become a battlefield now, just stepping out of home increases my anxiety, I’m even afraid of walking on streets because there are no proper footpaths and even if there is a footpath, people drive on it,” said another.”No need to be sad- this is story of all cities and towns in India. The quality of life has worsened in last 7-8 years with major issues- waste pick-up and disposal, pollution, sewer overflow, storm water drainage, traffic management, maintenance of roads, non-exence of pavements,” wrote one user.