Pune - 100 Resilient Cities

Pune’s Resilience Story

Pune is a thriving metropolis with a strong traditional manufacturing sector and rapidly growing IT and education sectors. However, sustained growth has led to an unprecedented strain on the city’s limited transportation system, with wait times now exceeding 20 minutes on 84% of city bus routes. Limited public transportation options, an aging bus fleet, and unsynchronized traffic signals contribute to regular gridlock. A BRT system under development and planned metro system should provide some relief for Pune in the near future.

Pune is the sixth most earthquake-prone city in India, and has witnessed a steady increase in the intensity and frequency of seismic activity in recent years. A magnitude 7.0 earthquake could have devastating consequences for the city, resulting in the loss of life and destruction of property. The location of four major municipal reservoir dams upstream from the city could further compound the risk of devastation.

SHOCKS AND STRESSES

Disease Outbreak
Earthquake
Lack of Affordable Housing
Poor Air Quality
Rainfall Flooding
Terrorist Attack
Water Insecurity

Meet The Chief Resilience Officer

Mahesh Harhare has over 15 years of experience working in Indian cities in the fields of urban management and urban governance, including policy and strategy, city infrastructure and investment assessment, institutional assessment, project feasibility and development, and transaction advisory.

Throughout his career, he has worked on key urban sector related assignments supported by external funding agencies such as ADB, IFC, GIZ, USAID and BMGF; various state governments; and more than 40 urban local bodies in India. He has demonstrated leadership skills at various levels – national, state and local.

His work on key assignments in the urban water and sanitation sectors includes: developing City Sanitation Plans (CSPs) for GIZ, developing PPP projects in the urban water and wastewater recycling sector for ADB, and creating City Development Plans for 25 cities and a feasibility assessment for a waste-to-energy plant for BMGF in India.

Mahesh received an MTech in Urban Planning after studying civil engineering. He is currently enrolled in an Executive Program in Management at IIM Calcutta, India.