PUNE: A decade ago,
Bhugaon, on the outskirts of Pune, was completely agrarian __green fields, cattle, birds and a slow-paced life. When it shifted gears, the acres of farm land along either sides of
Pune-Mulshi Road were gone and apartment complexes came up.
Local resident
Baban Mahadeo Tonde said development has adversely affected Bhugaon. Regular travellers along the route said what was a scenic drive with roads flanked by farms and wide pastures on either side, now resembles a concrete jungle and is an extension of the city.
Resident of Pirangut, Sachin Vavale said, "Till the last decade, the stretch from
Chandni Chowk to Pirangut was primarily agrarian. The actual shift started about six years ago with setting up of industrial units at Pirangut. Numerous farmers took advantage of the rapid development and sold off their farm land to industries and developers. The landscape of this area has since undergone a drastic shift."
Vavale said nearly 60% of the farm land in the area was sold by land owners. "Due to Bhugaon's proximity to Pune, it was among the first few rural areas to witness rapid urbanization. The number of residential complexes are increasing by the day and so is the population of the area," he stated.
Tonde said most changes in this neighbourhood occurred in the last four to five years. "WE have better connectivity to the city and better healthcare. However, problems like water, poor street lighting and massive traffic jams have disrupted our lives."
The traffic along Pune-Mulshi route has increase phenomenally in the last three years. "The lack of street lights on a stretch of nearly three km around Bhugaon is a threat. Vehicles speed down the road and there have been many accidents. At other times, the roads are packed and we take over an hour to enter Pune city from Bhugaon," Tonde said.
The Bhugaon gram panchayat has demanded a bypass for the area. "This road is a national highway and is under the jurisdiction of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). We have written to them to install street lights. We also sought speed breakers, but since it's a highway, it could not be done," sarpanch Madhukar Gawade said.
