Wagholi's Road to Despair: Residents Announce Indefinite Hunger Strike Over Bakori Road Blight

The patience of Wagholi residents has finally worn thin, giving way to a desperate call for justice. Frustrated by years of official neglect and the deplorable condition of the crucial Bakori Road, local residents, spearheaded by the Wagholi Housing Societies Association (WHSA), are set to embark on an indefinite hunger strike.

This drastic step, slated to begin on October 15, underscores the community's unwavering resolve to demand immediate action on a 2.5-kilometer stretch that has become a daily nightmare for thousands.

Bakori Road isn't just a patch of asphalt; it's a vital artery connecting Wagholi to Bakori, Lohegaon, and the Pune International Airport.

Yet, its current state is nothing short of an administrative embarrassment. Riddled with craters, covered in loose gravel, and perpetually shrouded in a choking cloud of dust, the road has transformed into a hazardous obstacle course. Residents report a disturbing rise in accidents, while the incessant dust pollution has triggered a host of respiratory ailments, turning daily commutes into a health risk.

The current crisis isn't an overnight phenomenon.

For over five years, since 2018, the people of Wagholi have tirelessly campaigned for the road's repair. Their efforts have included numerous peaceful protests, demonstrations, and a relentless barrage of letters addressed to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), and the Public Works Department (PWD), even escalating their pleas to the District Collector.

Despite these persistent appeals, the civic authorities have largely responded with deafening silence or, worse, a perplexing game of jurisdictional hot potato, passing responsibility between departments without offering a concrete solution.

Anil Kumar Mishra, President of the WHSA, articulated the community's profound disappointment.

"We have exhausted every possible avenue, from peaceful protests to legal notices, yet the authorities remain unresponsive," Mishra stated, highlighting the PMC's unfulfilled promise of initiating repairs by May 2023. This broken pledge has only intensified the residents' feeling of betrayal and neglect, pushing them towards this ultimate form of protest.

The upcoming hunger strike represents a critical turning point.

It's a poignant testament to the power of community when pushed to the brink, a collective cry for fundamental infrastructure that enhances, rather than endangers, daily life. As October 15 approaches, all eyes are on Wagholi, as residents prepare to make their stand, hoping their sacrifice will finally pave the way for a safer, dust-free Bakori Road.