E-Paper
Heavy rains expose drainage woes at Swargate ST stand
The heavy downpour, which occurred Thursday afternoon, led to rapid accumulation of rainwater across large portions of the premises, turning the busy transport hub into a virtual pool within minutes.
Pune -
Following intense, unseasonal rain that lashed the city on Thursday, there was severe waterlogging at the Swargate state transport (ST) stand in Pune, leaving the bus terminal in a chaotic state and causing inconvenience to passengers. The heavy downpour, which occurred Thursday afternoon, led to rapid accumulation of rainwater across large portions of the premises, turning the busy transport hub into a virtual pool within minutes. So much so that commuters were forced to wade through knee-deep water to access buses, significantly disrupting daily operations at one of the city’s most crucial transit points.
The situation exposed long-standing drainage issues at the bus stand, as water failed to recede quickly due to inadequate outflow systems. The problem, typically witnessed during the monsoon season, resurfaced even in early March, drawing sharp criticism from passengers over the lack of preparedness and delayed infrastructure upgrades. Stagnant water, mixed with sludge and mud, created slippery conditions, posing risks especially to elderly passengers, women, and children. The choking of the main sewage line further aggravated the situation, delaying the drainage process and leaving the entire depot submerged for a prolonged period.
Despite repeated proposals over the past several years to undertake complete concretisation of the Swargate ST stand premises to prevent such recurring issues, the work has remained pending, raising serious concerns about administrative inaction. Passengers expressed frustration over the continued neglect of basic infrastructure at such a critical public facility.
“Upon receiving information about the situation at the station, we immediately deployed staff to assist passengers and manage the situation. However, the recurring blockage in the main sewage line leads to water accumulation here. This drainage system falls under the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC),” said Arun Siya, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Pune divisional controller.
