As India’s urban spaces grow, so do the voices of the women navigating them. And the women of Pune—home to students, creatives, and corporate professionals—are clear: safety isn’t about restriction. It’s about redesigning freedom.

Let’s Talk About the Real Problem: Control ≠ Care

Urban planning isn’t neutral—it often forgets women. A broken footpath might just be “inconvenient” for some, but for a woman walking alone at night, it’s the difference between taking a shortcut or avoiding the route entirely.

Pune’s “Safe Spots”

Some corners of Pune feel like exhale:

• Pagdandi Book Café, Baner: Solo-friendly, peaceful, no creeps.

• Pune Okay Please Markets: Crowded, but oddly comforting with their creative chaos.

• Pune Metro Stations: Surprisingly secure (so far), especially the Vanaz line with surveillance and regular police presence.

• Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus: Sprawling and green, but still walkable with enough people around.

The vibe? Neutral. Not hyper-masculine. Not hostile.

Urban safety isn’t a favour. It’s a right. And it starts with asking who the city was built for—and how we can fix that.

So, What Now?

If Pune wants to claim its title as a smart, youth-driven city, it needs to look beyond gated societies and nightlife restrictions.

It needs to:

• Listen to the lived experiences of women

• Involve them in policy and planning

• Create a public culture where walking, sitting, dancing, or even loitering isn’t a threat to anyone’s dignity

Safety is not a luxury.
And for the young women shaping Pune’s culture, business, and future—it’s not optional either.