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.
