Pune: Youth Congress Criticise PMC’s Drive against Overhead Cables, Claim Internet Outages Hit Work-from-Home users
Pune, 4th April 2026: The members of Youth Congress have criticised the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) over its ongoing crackdown on overhead cables, alleging that the drive has disrupted internet services in several parts of the city and severely affected those working from home.
According to party representatives, the removal of unauthorised overhead cables has led to widespread connectivity issues in areas such as Satara Road, Punyainagar and Dhankawadi. A joint team of the civic body’s encroachment, fire and electrical departments had carried out action in these localities, seizing nearly two truckloads of cables. Internet services in the affected areas were reportedly hit soon after the drive.
Indian Youth Congress secretary and cable operator Sagar Dhadwe said the civic action has caused major inconvenience to residents, particularly professionals working remotely. “At a time when job insecurity is already high, disruption of internet services has added to the stress of employees who depend on stable connectivity for their work,” he said.
Dhadwe further claimed that PMC’s policy framework does not clearly mandate whether cables must be laid overhead or underground, yet the administration is now pushing for underground infrastructure. He pointed out that laying underground cables involves a significant cost — estimated between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore per kilometre — in addition to road excavation charges of around Rs 12,500 per metre and multiple regulatory conditions such as night-time work permissions and traffic clearances.
Due to these high costs, many service providers opt for overhead cable networks using poles, buildings or trees, he said, adding that action against such setups is disrupting services.
He also alleged that the civic body is ignoring more pressing infrastructure issues such as poor road conditions and clogged drainage systems, which lead to waterlogging even after light rainfall.
Dhadwe further said that global geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing conflict involving the US, Iran and Israel, have affected the supply of cable materials, which could lead to a rise in internet service costs in the future.
Questioning the intent behind the drive, he demanded that PMC announce a clear and transparent policy on cable infrastructure instead of undertaking what he termed as arbitrary action.
