Pune, 5th March 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday carried out a large-scale demolition drive against unauthorized constructions in the Lohegaon–Wagholi area, bringing down several multi-storey buildings that had come up without approval.
According to civic officials, the action targeted 18 illegal buildings that had been issued notices earlier. Despite the warnings, the structures continued to stand and were eventually demolished using heavy machinery, including jaw cutters.
The demolition cleared nearly 78,000 square feet of unauthorized construction, including some tin shed structures. Officials said the civic administration is still uncertain whether flats in these buildings had already been sold to buyers.
The demolition was carried out by the PMC’s Encroachment and Illegal Construction Removal Department. Additional action was taken in the Nico Garden area, where unauthorized structures such as Rameshwar Cafe, Sambar Hotel and other sheds near Ganpati Mandir Chowk were removed. About 6,500 square feet of illegal construction was cleared in that operation.
The drive was conducted on the orders of Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and supervised by Deputy Commissioner Somnath Bankar and Chief Security Officer Dr Ramesh Shelar. A large enforcement team was deployed for the operation, including civic police, MSF personnel, JCB machines, gas cutters and demolition equipment.
Officials said such illegal developments frequently emerge in suburban areas where builders construct multi-storey buildings without approvals and sell flats or shops to unsuspecting buyers.
"Many citizens, especially those facing financial constraints, do not verify whether a building is legally approved before purchasing property. When the municipal corporation later demolishes these structures, buyers lose both their homes and their lifetime savings, while builders often escape major losses," an official said.
Similar incidents have been reported earlier in areas such as Narhe and Ambegaon, where illegal constructions were demolished, leaving homebuyers in distress. Civic authorities have urged citizens to verify building approvals with the PMC before purchasing property to avoid such financial and legal risks.