India, April 29 -- Pune city's dependence on water tankers is rising sharply, with data from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) showing a steady increase in tanker trips over the past three years, driven by population growth, uneven water supply and rapid expansion on the city's outskirts.

PMC records show that total tanker trips across the city climbed from 4,00,348 in 2023-24 to 4,89,202 in 2024-25, and then rose by nearly 6% to 5,17,422 in 2025-26. The trend points to mounting pressure on the city's water distribution system.

The data suggest that reliance on tankers is no longer confined to peak-summer shortages but has become a year-round necessity in several fast-growing areas where infrastructure has lagged behind development....