Pune Police reprimand CCTV contractor for causing public inconvenience.
Excavation work ordered to stop during Diwali; municipal notice issued.
Complaints arose over unfilled trenches and traffic disruption.
Pune, 14 October 2025: During the busy Diwali shopping period, residents faced major disruptions due to excavation work for CCTV cable installation. Despite many complaints, the contractor did not improve the situation.
On October 13, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar held a meeting to address the issue, reprimanding the contractor and instructing the municipal corporation to issue a notice. The excavation work has been paused for the duration of the festival.
The state government sanctioned a project to set up CCTV cameras throughout Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the surrounding rural regions, appointing Allied Services as the contractor.
The project included a waiver for excavation fees, and the municipal corporation was responsible for road repairs after the project's completion. However, the contractor failed to effectively coordinate with municipal authorities during the excavation process.
At first, authorization was given for 28 kilometres of excavation, but the contractor started extensive digging in both central and suburban regions, leaving trenches unfilled after cable installation. This resulted in numerous complaints as the inadequately filled trenches left soil scattered on roads, posing dangers during the Diwali traffic surge.
A gathering took place at the Police Commissioner's office, with municipal officials in attendance, to assess the contractor's performance. Images of inadequately completed areas were shown.
Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stressed that the contractor should avoid causing inconvenience to the public, cautioning about severe repercussions. Additionally, the municipal corporation sent a formal notice and directed that excavation work be paused until after Diwali.
Municipal officials presented evidence of complaints about Allied Services’ work. The Police Commissioner took serious note and warned the contractor strongly. The corporation has also issued a notice, and excavation work will remain suspended until the festival ends,Aniruddha Pawaskar, Chief Engineer, Roads Department.