Gajendra Baba More, an NCP (SP) worker, rowed a boat through stagnant water on a flooded road in the Manjari area, making a bold statement against the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). His protest aimed to highlight the inefficiency and negligence of the local administration in managing urban infrastructure during the monsoon.
“Are rivers supposed to flow on roads?” More questioned sarcastically, as residents gathered around to witness the dramatic protest. The act has sparked conversations across the city and is being widely shared on social media.
Waterlogging during the monsoon is not new to Pune. Each year, even moderate rainfall leads to flooded roads, stranded vehicles, and in some areas, water entering homes. The citizens of Pune, or Punekars, have repeatedly criticized the administration for failing to provide long-term solutions to these persistent problems.
While More’s protest amused many, it also struck a chord with frustrated citizens who face the same challenges every year. “This is not a joke anymore—why must we endure this every monsoon?” asked a local resident. Several people took to social media to express anger over the municipal corporation’s failure to maintain proper drainage systems.
The protest has reignited the debate around urban planning and drainage management in Pune. With public sentiment clearly turning against the authorities, many are now demanding accountability and swift action to prevent such flooding in the future.
As the city braces for more rain in the coming weeks, all eyes are on the PMC and PMRDA to see whether this protest will prompt meaningful change—or be just another footnote in a long list of monsoon complaints.