Wagholi Residents Launch Online Petition Against Chronic Power Outages and MSEDCL Inefficiency
Residents of Wagholi in Pune have initiated an online petition to protest against recurrent power outages, ranging from minor disruptions to major faults, coupled with what they describe as "unresponsive" staff from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). The community, which falls under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), relies on feeder services from Lonikand, located 10 kilometers away, leading to persistent issues.
Infrastructure Challenges and Daily Disruptions
The reliance on distant feeder services has resulted in frequent faults, primarily due to ongoing digging works and subsequent delays in repairs by MSEDCL personnel. Residents report that in many housing societies, children frequently get stuck in elevators during outages, and senior citizens avoid walks for fear of being trapped. The situation has severely impacted the large number of professionals working from home, disrupting their productivity and connectivity.
Additionally, each society incurs significant expenses, spending substantial amounts on diesel for generators to cope with the unreliable power supply. "Residents face daily power cuts, frequent voltage fluctuations, and unplanned outages. This damages appliances and disrupts work, studies, and daily life," said resident Siraj Dokadia in an interview with TOI. He explained that Wagholi receives power from a distant substation and sits at the tail end of the network, causing low voltage and overload issues.
Rapid Urban Growth Outpacing Rural Infrastructure
Dokadia highlighted that while MSEDCL has taken steps such as adding feeders and increasing manpower, these measures fall short of addressing the area's rapid urban expansion. "The power is supplied from the Pune rural circle, designed for low-density, agricultural regions. Consequently, though Wagholi is a high-density urban zone under PMC, it struggles with low priority in funding, staff, and infrastructure upgrades," he added.
In contrast, nearby areas like Vimannagar and Kharadi enjoy more reliable power with stronger infrastructure and faster response systems, as they are under urban divisions. Another resident, Rameez Tamboli, emphasized that their primary demand is to transfer Wagholi from the rural to the urban grid for improved service and quicker problem resolution. "We have sent innumerable emails to the state power minister, but nothing has happened. If Wagholi gets included in the urban circle, the power demand will be met, and frequent outages will cease," he stated.
Decade-Long Neglect and Safety Concerns
Residents lament that there has been no significant improvement in power infrastructure over the past decade, despite an exponential population increase that places extreme load on existing structures. Sanjeev Patil, a local resident, shared his concerns: "We have recurrent power cuts. MSEDCL has promised to streamline the supply, but to no effect. My son is an IT professional. The power often fails when he is on call with international clients. It takes a few seconds for the inverter to kick in, but important seconds are lost."
He further noted that large societies spend around Rs 1 lakh on power generators, and the lack of back-feeding arrangements means outages result in complete loss of supply from alternative sources. "It is scary to imagine what will happen during the monsoon," Patil added, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
MSEDCL's Response and Ongoing Initiatives
In response to TOI's inquiries, MSEDCL officials detailed several measures undertaken to address the growing population's needs. On September 5, 2025, the original Wagholi MSEDCL section was split into four separate sections, with sanctioned staff increasing from 21 to 50 employees and section engineers rising from one to four. Load redistribution has been implemented to tackle overloading issues.
The utility has also established back-feeding arrangements for faster power restoration and is in the process of installing 29 kilometers of cabling and 31 ring main units under a scheme aimed at network stabilization. New projects include two major 132 KV substations, a proposed additional 50 MVA transformer for the Khulewadi substation, four new feeders to enhance distribution, and a planned new switching station.
Enhanced Communication and Complaint Mechanisms
MSEDCL has introduced improved communication channels to keep residents informed. Complaints can be registered on toll-free numbers: 1912, 18002333435, and 18002123435. The official stated, "MSEDCL has created WhatsApp groups for specific feeders and sections. Residents are now notified directly about power breakdowns, planned shutdowns, and repair progress. We will direct the staff to be more responsive. Consumers may also use the Mahavitaran mobile app and communicate on WhatsApp for maximum online services."
Despite these efforts, Wagholi residents continue to advocate for a permanent solution through their petition, stressing that only a shift to the urban grid can ensure reliable and sustainable power supply for their rapidly developing community.
