Residents in Senapati Bapat Road, Aundh-Baner, Model Colony and other key localities are urged to store sufficient water as essential pipeline repair work near University Chowk will disrupt supply for the entire day.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced a complete water supply shutdown on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, across several major residential and commercial areas of the city. The disruption is necessitated by urgent repair work on a primary water pipeline located near Savitribai Phule Pune University Chowk .

Civic officials have confirmed that water supply will remain suspended throughout the day to facilitate technical maintenance aimed at resolving existing pipeline issues and ensuring smoother water distribution in the future. Normal supply is expected to resume on Wednesday, March 25 .

The scheduled shutdown comes at a time when Pune is already grappling with broader water management concerns, including rising summer demand and ongoing disputes between the civic body and the state irrigation department over water dues and usage classification .

Full List of Affected Areas on March 24

The PMC has released a detailed list of localities that will experience a complete water supply halt for 24 hours. Residents in these areas are advised to make adequate storage arrangements in advance .

Primary Affected Localities

The following areas will have no water supply throughout March 24:

Senapati Bapat Road – both sides
Asha Nagar
Gokhale Nagar
Bahiratwadi
Bhosale Nagar
Kasarkar Wadi
Aundh-Baner – combined region
Modern College vicinity
Model Colony
Chikhalwadi
Bopodi

According to PMC officials, the repair work is being undertaken to address technical issues in the main pipeline network. The civic body has assured that the work will be prioritized to minimize inconvenience, though the shutdown will remain in effect for the entire day .

Restoration Timeline and PMC Advisory

When Will Water Supply Resume?

Water supply is expected to be fully restored and normalized on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, following the completion of repair work. However, officials have noted that restoration may be gradual in certain pockets depending on local pipeline conditions and water pressure .

Official Appeal to Citizens

The PMC has issued a public appeal urging residents in affected areas to:

“Use water carefully and plan their usage in advance” – Pune Municipal Corporation

The civic body has specifically requested citizens to:

Store sufficient water for drinking and household needs for March 24
Exercise judicious water usage during the maintenance period
Cooperate with the administration to ensure smooth execution of essential repair work

Officials emphasized that while the shutdown may cause temporary inconvenience, the maintenance is critical for long-term reliability of the city’s water distribution system .

Beyond the Shutdown – Pune’s Growing Water Concerns

While the March 24 shutdown is a scheduled maintenance event, it occurs against the backdrop of deeper water supply challenges facing Pune as summer intensifies.

Rising Water Demand and Reservoir Levels

According to Irrigation Department data, Pune’s reservoirs currently hold adequate storage, but experts warn that rising demand could strain supplies in the coming months .

Parameter	Status
Total reservoir storage (as of March 17, 2026)	25.582 TMC
Water requirement (March 4–July 15, 134 days)	7.122 TMC
Khadakwasla dam chain capacity	29.15 TMC
Current storage in Khadakwasla chain	15.572 TMC

The city’s water demand has been steadily increasing due to population growth and the expansion of civic boundaries to include merged villages. Areas such as Dhankawadi, Katraj, Kondhwa, Wagholi, Lohegaon, Sus, and Pashan are already facing pressure on water availability .

Tanker Water Demand Surges

Data released by the administration shows a significant year-on-year increase in tanker water trips, reflecting growing water stress:

February 2026: 46,068 tanker trips
February 2025: 39,488 tanker trips
February 2024: 33,951 tanker trips

The nearly 36% increase over two years underscores the urgency of addressing Pune’s water management challenges.

Water Dues Dispute Adds to Supply Uncertainty

A parallel development that has raised concerns among residents is the ongoing dispute between the PMC and the state Water Resources Department over outstanding water dues.

Competing Claims Over Arrears

The Water Resources Department recently warned that outstanding dues of approximately ₹952 crore could lead to supply action, with a March 23 deadline reportedly set for payment .

However, Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has categorically rejected these claims, stating:

“The PMC has no arrears. Since 2016, bills have been wrongly issued. Even then, the civic body has paid. If the bills are corrected, the Water Resources Department will have to pay ₹411 crore back to the PMC. Instead of rectifying bills, threatening to cut the water supply is completely wrong.”

The Core Dispute

The disagreement centers on three key issues:

Water Quota: The state government has fixed a quota of 16.36 TMC for Pune, but the Water Resources Department claims the sanctioned quota is only 11.60 TMC
Industrial Classification: PMC disputes being billed under industrial category, arguing that Pune has no process industries and water used in factories is for drinking and basic purposes only. The civic body has demanded that consumption categories be revised to reflect actual usage
Excess Draw: PMC reportedly draws 19.33 TMC annually from the Khadakwasla dam chain against a sanctioned quota of 12.932 TMC – an excess of 6.39 TMC, which the irrigation department says attracts penalties

Pimpri-Chinchwad Also Faces Pressure

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is similarly facing demands from the irrigation department, which has sought ₹143 crore in pending dues and penalties. Officials have warned of potential supply cuts if payments are not cleared, citing both excess water draw and inadequate sewage treatment .

What Residents Should Do

With the March 24 shutdown confirmed and broader summer concerns looming, residents are advised to take the following steps:

Store water in advance for March 24, particularly households in the listed affected areas
Monitor official PMC channels for real-time updates on restoration
Use water judiciously even after supply resumes to help manage summer demand
Report any pipeline issues or leaks to the PMC water supply department

Conclusion

The March 24 water supply shutdown in Pune, while a temporary measure for essential maintenance, serves as a reminder of the city’s broader water management challenges. With summer demand rising and administrative disputes over water dues and usage yet to be resolved, residents may face continued uncertainty in the coming months.

The PMC has assured that supply will be restored on March 25, and officials have emphasized that the repair work will contribute to a more reliable water distribution system in the long run. Citizens are urged to cooperate during the maintenance period and remain informed through official civic body communications.

Disclaimer: The list of affected areas and restoration schedule is based on official PMC information as of March 23, 2026. Residents are advised to check the Pune Municipal Corporation’s official website and social media channels for any last-minute updates or changes.

Pune Water Supply Shutdown on March 24: Full List of Areas to Face 24-Hour Cut, PMC Issues Advisory