Wednesday, April 20, 2011

SIX THINGS WANTED IN WAKAD PUNE

SIX THINGS WANTED IN WAKAD
By
VIKRAM KARVE

At present, there is Zero Quality of Life in Wakad.

Life is difficult in Wakad as even day-to-day requirements for a decent living are not available. And just imagine, Wakad is touted as a future “destination” and it is supposed to be a posh suburb of Pune. It is only when you start living here that reality strikes you.

I live in South Wakad, towards the Mula river, definitely the better part of Wakad, where at least the ambience is good, the view from my clean well lighted airy apartment is excellent with plenty of space all around and the air is fresh and unpolluted and there is still a bit of greenery around. I like the charming rustic ambience of the clean, serene, spiritual and well laid out Wakad village and once the connecting road is ready I will be able to walk down to the highway.

I really pity those who stay in North Wakad, on the other side of the Aundh Hinjewadi Road – it is a filthy, polluted, congested concrete jungle choking with traffic and terrible infrastructure. Construction activity is on full swing, with all the noise, dirt, and grime flying around, and there is a perpetual stench due to strewn garbage and debris, stray dogs abound dangerously and hapless people working on the construction sites defecate in the open fields.

Let’s hope for the best, stop cribbing and offer some constructive suggestions to improve the quality of life in Wakad. If anyone is listening, here is a small wish list of things urgently required in Wakad in order to alleviate the difficulties of Wakadkars and raise the quality of life.

I will list just SIX THINGS, six very basic requirements of urban life, to start with:

1. FOOD

There is an urgent need of some good value-for-money restaurants, eateries and fast food joints because, today, there is nowhere you can go to eat out in Wakad. Yes, you do not even get a decent Vada Pav or Bhel or Pani Puri or Misal or Dosa or Idli or Utthapam or Chola Bhatura or Pav Bhaji or a pastry or ice cream or a quality hygienic affordable value-for-money meal in Wakad. You can't even get a decent cup of tea or coffee. If you want to have a snack, dosa, idli or an affordable meal, you have to go all the way to Aundh or to Sadanand in Baner. There are a few expensive hotels and overpriced “dhabas” on the Mumbai – Bangalore highway and on the Hinjewadi Road but what one needs are clean decent family places, like Udipi Restaurants, which are not too much of a burden on the pocket. Let’s also have some good fast food joints, an ice cream parlour, cafes and street food places (pav bhaji, Chinese etc) too. A Khau Galli (planned by PCMC near the waterfront) would be great. There are no sweet shops or halwais out here in Wakad. We require some home delivery restaurants too. Till then the only option is to order a pizza from Domino or a Burger from McDonalds.

2. BANKS and ATMs

There is just one ATM in Wakad - the solitary State Bank of India ATM in the petrol pump premises. Surprisingly there is not a single branch of any well-known bank in Wakad. I wish ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis, SBI and other big nationalised banks open Branches and ATMs soon in Wakad considering the huge customer base.

3. SHOPPING CENTRE and MALLS

Believe it or not!
There is no departmental store, electronic goods store, bookstore, shopping centre or mall in Wakad? There are hardly any shops either. Even to buy the basics you have to go all the way to Baner or Aundh or Chinchwad, which are quite far away. Just imagine the business such commercial enterprises would generate.

4. MULTIPLEX

If you want to see a movie, you go all the way to ESquare more than 12 kilometres away and on holidays, you may not get tickets. Is anyone planning a multiplex for all those entertainment hungry IT Pros living out here in Wakad? Something like ESQUARE - a decent place to spend a day and hang out.

5. LANDLINE TELEPHONES and BROADBAND

Let me tell you something you will probably not believe, incredible but true. You cannot get a BSNL Landline or Broadband in Wakad, the home to IT Professionals. Just before I relocated, I made a request via internet to BSNL for a landline and broadband connection at my new apartment in Rohan Tarang and promptly got an SMS that their staff would visit my place and give the connection immediately. I waited for a few days and when no one from BSNL turned up, I enquired with BSNL. I was shocked when BSNL informed me that it was not possible to give me landline telephone or broadband internet connection as there was no optical fibre cable in that area. Well, I don’t live in an uninhabited desolate mofussil area in the back of beyond or deep within remote uncharted forests and jungles – I live in a most modern township just a stone’s throw away from the much hyped “state-of-the-art” Infotech Park at Hinjewadi in Pune, which is being flaunted as the IT Capital of India. And, by the way, most of the persons living out here are IT Pros. That’s “Cart before Horse” infrastructure development for you!

6. MEDICAL FACILITIES

At serial six of this wishlist for Wakad, last but not the least, we need medical facilities, a hospital, clinics, doctors, dentists, even vets for pets. Right now there are NIL medical facilities in Wakad - even for the smallest of ills one has to rush to Pune City.

I hope for the best. 

Maybe this wish list will be realized and the quality of life in Wakad will be elevated to a decent standard. PCMC must be collecting a huge amount of property taxes from Wakad and I am sure they will plough back some of the money into the development of Wakad and make Wakad a happening place to live in. 


A large number of IT professionals employed by top-notch IT companies like Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, TCS etc located in the Rajiv Gandhi InfoTech Park in Hinjewadi live in Wakad. I trust these companies will also do their bit to improve the quality of life in Wakad as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR. This will encourage more and more IT Professionals to live in Wakad which is very near their workplaces and will reduce commuting time, save expensive fuel costs and also help in alleviating the terrible traffic chaos on the roads from Hinjewadi to Pune City. I think the IT companies must play their role in the development of Wakad as this will ultimately benefit them in the long run.

Until then, the best thing to do is to STAY INSIDE and STAY COOL and enjoy a life of solitude and contemplation! Just imagine that you are not living in Pune but in some rural setting, a back of beyond mofussil area, and plan your weekly trips to enjoy the delights of Pune City.

Dear Readers, especially fellow Wakadkars, please do comment and add on to the list…

PS:

Let me end on a positive note and tell you the best thing I like about Wakad (in addition to the excellent connectivity, which is a well-known fact).

There is a beautiful garden on the banks of Mula where I spend my evenings on the lush green lawns by the waterfront enjoying the sublime spirituality in the air.

I eagerly await the BRTS – once this comes through there will be plenty of space for pedestrians and cyclists like there is on the BRTS Satara Road where one can enjoy one’s walks unhindered. As and when the BRTS sees the light of the day, one can hope to travel in the comfortable BRTS Buses to Pune city, the traffic congestion will ease too, and driving will become pleasurable.

Let's wait and watch - maybe Wakad will become a great place to live in.

To be continued ….

VIKRAM KARVE

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

16 comments:

Shalini said...

Liked this one,hey Can I post your article on Infosys internal BB ( Bulltein Board- a common forum to post day to day need and views) for others to read and think.

Vikram Waman Karve said...

@ Shalini:
Dear Shalini,
Thank you for your comments on my blog.
You are most welcome to post my article on Infosys Internal BB. Please do give me due credit as the author and also include a link to my article http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2011/04/six-things-wanted-in-wakad-pune.html
and my blog http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Have a Happy Day, especially if you live in Wakad.
Regards
Vikram

Vijender Sahu said...

Hi Vikram
I share the same thoughts and really liked your article. I read your article just now if I would have read it earlier, probably, I would have postponed my plan to move to Rohan :)
I a rush to move to a better flat I simply ignored the basic requirements needed in area. Good to know from your article about Khaugalli plan by PCMC, which will slightly improve quality of life here by adding one option. I think once the Aundh and Hinjewadi link road is developed, it would give the stepping stone for Malls and Multiplexes as I am sure demand is in plenty in the area.

Anonymous said...

Hi Vikram
I share the same thoughts and really liked your article. I read your article just now if I would have read it earlier, probably, I would have postponed my plan to move to Rohan :)
I a rush to move to a better flat I simply ignored the basic requirements needed in area. Good to know from your article about Khaugalli plan by PCMC, which will slightly improve quality of life here by adding one option. I think once the Aundh and Hinjewadi link road is developed, it would give the stepping stone for Malls and Multiplexes as I am sure demand is in plenty in the area.
Vijender Sahu

Vijender Sahu said...

Hi Vikram
I share the same thoughts and really liked your article. I read your article just now if I would have read it earlier, probably, I would have postponed my plan to move to Rohan :)
I a rush to move to a better flat I simply ignored the basic requirements needed in area. Good to know from your article about Khaugalli plan by PCMC, which will slightly improve quality of life here by adding one option. I think once the Aundh and Hinjewadi link road is developed, it would give the stepping stone for Malls and Multiplexes as I am sure demand is in plenty in the area.
Vijender Sahu

Vikram Waman Karve said...

@ Vijender - Welcome to Rohan Tarang. One thing is sure - at least in Wakad, location-wise Rohan Tarang is the best housing society. Yes, I believe a multiplex and mall are coming up on the Hinjewadi Road, but in Pune things move at snail's place - till then enjoy at NPB Food Square.

KC said...

Hi,
I have shifted to Wakad in May 2011. Before that I have stayed in Pimpri - about 15 mins away from Wakad on bike.
Some points of yours like - stray dogs, shopping malls are correct. But here are my comments to the points you have made:
1) Food - yes we need good Udipi style joints. But there are other okayish restaurants like - Yashodhan, Kings Paradise, etc that are near Kaspate Wasti, if you want to eat out.
2)There are AXIS, ICICI and HDFC ATM's in Wakad at Kaspate Wasti chowk and near Copacabbana hotel.
5) BSNL has started giving landlines in *north wakad*, i am not aware about Broadband.
6) Check out Aditya Birla hospital at Chinchwad instead of going to pune hospital.
Please keep in mind that Wakad is a newly developing area, and like all new areas there will be some time before it looks posh and affluent. Lets hope it happens soon!

Vikram Waman Karve said...

@ Kavita - Yes, I agree, Wakad is improving. Thanks for your inputs. I must find these restaurants you mention. Maybe our paths will cross in Wakad. But I still await a good Udipi Restaurant to have Idli, Wada Sambar, Dosa and Utthapa.

Black said...

I was just googling for BSNL broadband in Wakad when I cam across your blog. A real eye opener indeed. The mobile broadband in the area in pathetic with poor coverage and subsequent disconnections. Even the google page takes ages to load on EDGE.
Really need some wired broadband in the area like BSNL which is affordable. Ashamed to say I live in an area with so many IT pro's and limited internet connectivity.
P.S. I work for an IT company as well.

Mango said...

Dear,Sir,
Good afternoon!
I am Salekar Mangesh as a BSNL Authorised D.I.D.Operator in pune,and already from last 14 yr's,i am in this telecommunication sector by own,my running Seperate Digital+Filtered 2 Exchanges with good quality,clearity service at door step,and all my subscriber's are satisfied this service,i given a service to all my sub.Intercom+CCTV+Landline connection of BSNL with Local+STD+ISD Calling+Hi-speed Broadband connectivity with all BSNL Plan's,Have a Nice Day Sir!

Vikram Waman Karve said...

Dear Mango (Salekar Mangesh) - Will you be good enough to visit Rohan Tarang Property Manager in Wakad and discuss.
We still do not have BSNL Landline Broadband Internet in Rohan Tarang Wakad Pune.
Regards

MYKE said...

I did not know Wakad was such a lonely place just a year ago.

Let me hear from you about how good it is right now.

I live in Kaspate Vasti.. I see all kinds of Restaurants around here..Htl Ambience is one of them. Its okay..

Was looking for some broadband service here. And that is how I got here..

Hope you finally got you BSNL connection.. Cheers, if you have..

Vikram Waman Karve said...

@ MYKE - You are right - Wakad is indeed improving (albeit a bit too slowly in typical Puneri Laid back style). Yes, I will write an updated blog on Life In Wakad soon.
Thanks for your comment
Regards
Vikram

Anonymous said...

One very sad incident I have come across in Wakad and it is happening on daily basis. All the DTH subscribers are facing severe problem as none of their engineers are visiting Wakad region to resolve customer problems. They are scared of local cable operators whose goons are beating and chasing them away. I am not able to watch television since last 2 weeks but no engineers are visiting us and I am paying for the service. Actually we are living in Goodaraj. It's better not to watch television but i wont go for cable operator. Otherwise they will think this as their win. I request everyone to join their hand and protest this GOONDARAJ

Anonymous said...

I am facing same problem and reason is local f***ing cable operator.. I'll never go for his shit cable connection.. I don't know do police exist and why don't they take action against this?

Anonymous said...

I fought with tata sky customer care for 2 hours and they connected me to local supervisor of installers and he mentioned that local goon Avinash Kalate and his goons beat them up if they come in the area to provide DTH connection. Police don't do anything and suggest customers to go for cable and tata sky guys not to go into the wakad area that's how their reply was. Other DTH connections are still possible except tata sky.