On the occasion of World Car-Free Day on 22nd September, a discussion on the topic “Mobility and Pune’s Core City (Peth Area)” was jointly organized by Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and Parisar at Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal on Monday 22nd September.
It was a part of series of initiatives being taken by Parisar and CEE about mobility in core city area of Pune. Pune city’s development plan talks about reducing private vehicles in the core city, considering diverse stakeholders and their needs a participatory dialogue is required to find balanced solutions. Over the past few months, CEE and Parisar have engaged with local stakeholders — including shopkeepers, vendors, schools, and colleges — through focused group discussions and individual meetings.
In the discussion, urban transport expert and urban planner Pranjali Deshpande, groundwater expert and executive director of ACWADAM Uma Aslekar, architect, professor and convenor of Pune chapter of INTACH Dr. Sharve Dhongde, and Prayas Health Group’s Dr. Ritu Parchure guided the audience. Director of Parisar, Ranjit Gadgil, interacted with the experts.
Pranjali Deshpande expressed the opinion that a local area plan should be made for the development of the core city, taking sustainable transport options into consideration. Pranjali emphasized that proposed solutions like tunnels, flyovers, and road widening are not viable, as they tend to attract more vehicles rather than solve congestion. She described the four main urban challenges as congestion, exposure to PM2.5 pollution, rising land surface temperatures, and increasing noise pollution. She also added that, Indian cities—including Pune—suffer from extremely low per-person space and a stark shortage of open or empty areas.
Dr. Ritu Parchure explained the adverse effects of air pollution on human health and drew attention to the fact that due to continuous traffic movement and congestion, the health of people in the core city—particularly children and senior citizens—is at serious risk. She also mentioned that though life expectancy has increased, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, and various forms of cancer, has risen sharply. Among several contributing factors, air pollution is the second highest risk factor for these diseases in Maharashtra.
She explained that PM2.5 is a pollutant invisible to the naked eye. These fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs, causing asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer. They also enter the bloodstream, affecting multiple organs and leading to conditions such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney damage, and digestive disorders. Air pollution is also linked to diabetes, low birth weight, and even miscarriages.
Professor Sharve Dhongde expressed concern that over the last 30 years, roads meant for walking have been given over to vehicles, and even as the city’s population continues to grow, open public spaces are steadily decreasing. He observed that earlier, every peth had bustling bazaar roads. Today, during discussions about the development of Pune’s core city, the focus is primarily on real estate and financial returns, while quality of life is largely ignored. He added that public consultation is expected in planning processes and exists in the system. However, either it does not take place at all, or, when it does, it is often ineffective, with inputs rarely influencing the final plans.
Groundwater expert Uma Aslekar pointed out that the city’s dependence on groundwater is increasing, and tunnels dug underground for transport will destroy aquifers and thereby pose the risk of reducing groundwater availability. She also highlighted issues related to redevelopment and groundwater use. Borewells are being dug wherever redevelopment occurs, some reaching depths of 400–450 feet in the core city. Aquifers, which currently hold only about 8% of the water, are being overused. Earlier, open spaces helped protect aquifers, but new infrastructure, including deeper parking and building foundations, is now destroying them.
Around 40 people attended the event. Participants took enthusiastic part in the discussion and demanded that the quality of life of citizens must be given primary importance. They also suggested that, similar to the ban on vehicles on roads in the core city during Ganesh Festival, a thought should be given to keeping such restrictions in place on other days as well.
Dr. Sanskriti Menon, Senior Programme Director at CEE, shared information about the work being done by CEE and Parisar on issues of transport, air pollution, and road safety in the core city. She also appealed to citizens to participate in upcoming initiatives like dialogues, discussions, and other programs will be organized to find inclusive and sustainable solutions to these issues.
Quote: “Instead of undertaking costly and temporary solutions like the proposed tunnels, which are not included in the city’s Development Plan and Comprehensive Mobility Plan, the municipal corporation should make efforts to ensure that our city becomes pedestrian, cycle, and public transport friendly.” – Ranjit Gadgil, Director, Parisar