Pune Residents and Schoolchildren Protest Over Unsafe Roads, Railway Gate Hazards at Khadki
Residents, parents, and students in Pune stage protest over unsafe roads, new Khadki railway gate near school, and long-pending traffic reforms.
Pune, October 04, 2025: Hundreds of residents, parents, and schoolchildren came together today in a peaceful protest in Pune, voicing deep concerns over deteriorating roads and the hazards posed by a newly opened railway gate near Khadki. The demonstration began in the morning outside St. Thomas School, directly opposite the new station gate, and continued into the evening with support from local citizens’ groups along Aundh Road and Bhau Patil Road.
From the outset, the protesters emphasized that their aim was not confrontation but the safety of daily commuters—especially children. They highlighted the daily risks involved in crossing the congested Sai Mandir junction, where traffic flows in multiple directions and no traffic signals currently regulate movement. With the railway gate opening directly opposite the school, many voiced fear that children are exposed to unnecessary danger during peak hours.
Participants questioned the transparency of the new gate’s installation. Earlier, they had been told it was for temporary construction use; now, it appears to have been converted into one of three permanent entrances. Citizens demanded that the gate be shifted at least 200 metres away from the school zone to reduce risk. In their list of demands, they also urged the authorities to repair broken internal roads stretching from the Range Hill underpass to Sai Baba Chowk, install proper traffic signals, set up road dividers, and limit heavy vehicle movement through residential streets.
Community leaders insisted that regular deployment of traffic police, regulated cab drop-off zones near the school, and closure of unsafe railway parcel gates are essential. One parent, holding her child’s hand, said: “Our children’s lives cannot be put at risk every single day.” Another local remarked that development must not compromise public safety or cause daily inconvenience to residents.
Former corporator Prakash Dhore, along with other local activists, pledged to take their concerns to higher authorities and ensure that demands for a safer, coordinated infrastructure are not ignored. Many residents backed the motion by signing online petitions and urging neighboring societies to join the cause.
As Pune continues to expand, the protest reflects growing frustration at piecemeal infrastructure changes that prioritize speed over safety. For communities around Khadki, the newly opened railway gate is seen not as a convenience but as a hazard—one that threatens daily life and especially the safety of children on their routes to school.
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