Nitin Raut won. TOI asked the citizens what the new MLAs should take up on priority as part of their five-year term.
People are generally happy with the results but they want work to be done. "At least the work they `promise' they will do," says Shivali Deshpande a 22 year-old engineering student. "The other major concerns include that of cleanliness and sanitation including electricity. We are tired of empty promises."
Most would agree. Neelam Deshpande, a resident of Daga Layout for the past two decades, informs, "The VNIT nullah has been an issue ever since I remember. The drains get blocked periodically and the solution they provide is just temporary. The underground layout of the drainage system has never been corrected."
Also what come across as another main problem are the roads. A common complaint is that nothing has been done ever since the last time they went through a makeover under Chandrashekhar. "The internal roads are really narrow which causes great inconvenience to the residents and if they are narrow, at least a parking has to be assigned. In areas with commercial complexes there is total ruckus during the day. The hospitals, shopping complexes everything is sanctioned without a parking space. So the traffic is completely out of control", says the miffed Anju Thakur, who is the resident of Dhantoli, a prime of a lot of commercial activities.
Agreeing to this, Harsh Punyani says "These complexes don't even have enough parking space for the shop owners even, forget the consumers coming there." All this leads to the lack of traffic regulation in a lot of commercial areas, especially the areas like Dhantoli, Ramdaspeth and the undisputed Itwari and Mahal areas.
Adding to this, these commercial establishments, including a lot of big names, generate pollution as well as garbage. "It has become a vicious circle. These are all the problems of lack of proper planning. There is also no scope for improvement unless the leaders remove the illegal constructions housing their vote bank areas," laments the 18 year-old Niranjan Shirpurkar.
Talking about the problems the city is facing, the issue of `power' (pun intended) cannot be ignored. "Power is misused and hence the common man gets no power in his house", jokes Priyank Mohabey. Elaborating more, Dr Suhas Salpekar says "We need to make a huge investment to ensure the regular supply of electricity to our hospitals. It is really distracting when the electricity is cut when we are operating."
"From the higher authorities to the clerks, most are in need of money; and who else will they target than the citizens. Corruption is everywhere but there has to be a start from somewhere, why not start by making the city non-corrupt", says Dr Rajendra Deshmukh. "The roads are dug up all the time and they are made spic and span just before the elections, or a ministers visit. So for better living conditions, we should call the ministers every month", ridicules Neelam Deshpande.
There are the problems but telling about the reforms and the action taken in the last term, Anju Thakur adds "I do agree that the garbage problem we faced has been fairly taken care of. The hospital garbage used to add to our woes. But this time around, the situation has improved."
Most people agree that the problems are related to the basic needs, that of electricity and water. The pipelines are laid but their regulation is not ensured. The elected representatives do not pay attention to the constituencies after they are elected. Summing it all up, Neelam Bovade, a resident of Verma Layout states "If we are responsible enough to go and vote they should fulfil their responsibilities too."
The city needs:
No load shedding
Better Roads
Better Public transport to control traffic
Better sanitation
Reduced prices of basic necessities
No Corruption
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