After months of enduring a battered, dusty, and pothole-ridden stretch, residents of Sus in Pune finally saw action on Yashwin Society Road this week. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) began repair work on Wednesday, following a citizen-led digital protest that drew attention to the civic body’s delay in addressing the issue.
The road, located between Vibgyor School and Neelanchal Society, had been a source of daily hardship for residents. Commuters, schoolchildren, senior citizens, and two-wheeler riders navigated the uneven terrain amidst heavy dust and frequent movement of vehicles. Even after the monsoon ended more than two months ago, no repair work had been carried out, aggravating respiratory issues, allergies, and discomfort from constant jostling over potholes.
Frustrated by repeated complaints that went unanswered, Sus residents turned to digital activism. On November 21, they staged a 15-minute coordinated online protest, sending hundreds of WhatsApp messages simultaneously to multiple PMC officials — ranging from the Junior Engineer to the Chief Engineer. The appeal was clear: uniform resurfacing of the entire road stretch without further delay.
The protest was carefully organized to remain peaceful yet firm. Residents stressed that their goal was not confrontation but the restoration of basic civic amenities. “Despite paying taxes on time, our essential infrastructure needs continued to be ignored. This small, coordinated effort was a way to make our voices heard,” said one local participant.
The online campaign quickly gained traction, with community members highlighting the health and safety hazards posed by the neglected road. Dust pollution had become a persistent concern, while potholes and uneven surfaces increased the risk of accidents, particularly for children and elderly commuters. The digital protest, though brief, managed to capture the attention of civic authorities and local media alike.
In response to the coordinated pressure, PMC finally commenced repair work on November 27. Teams began resurfacing the road, filling potholes, and addressing the uneven sections that had long plagued residents. The swift action has brought relief to the community, and locals have extended gratitude to PMC and Pune Pulse for amplifying their concerns.
This episode underscores a broader trend in urban India: citizen-led digital campaigns are increasingly effective in holding authorities accountable and prompting action on long-standing civic issues. By leveraging messaging apps and social media, residents can spotlight neglected infrastructure, accelerate response times, and engage with municipal bodies more efficiently than traditional complaint mechanisms.
For Sus residents, the repaired Yashwin Society Road represents more than just smoother commutes. It signals the power of collective digital advocacy in shaping urban governance. Community members remain optimistic that this successful intervention will inspire similar citizen initiatives across Pune and beyond, encouraging authorities to respond proactively to civic concerns.
The Yashwin Society Road case also highlights the importance of local engagement in urban planning. As cities grow and infrastructure demands increase, resident participation — even in digital form — plays a critical role in ensuring accountability, prioritizing safety, and maintaining quality of life.
