Pune: In a significant drive against unauthorized encroachments, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) demolished more than 50 huts near Dengle Bridge, behind the Civil Court Metro Station, early in the morning on Monday. Similar operations were carried out in Kothrud's Sutardara area to clear encroachments and decongest roads.
Encroachments Impacting Traffic and Pedestrians
Encroachments across Pune have been a growing concern, leaving little space for pedestrians on footpaths and obstructing traffic flow, leading to severe congestion. Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol and Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil recently expressed their dissatisfaction with the inaction against encroachments, prompting PMC to take swift measures.
Encroachment Removal Behind Civil Court Metro Station
In Circle 2's Ghole Road Ward Office jurisdiction, a large number of unauthorized huts had been erected on vacant land behind the Civil Court Metro Station. The area saw a daily increase in these structures, leading to complaints from citizens about traffic issues near Dengle Bridge.
Responding to these complaints, Deputy Commissioner Avinash Sakpal led a team equipped with JCB machines and workers to remove the encroachments. The operation began at 5:30 a.m. and continued until 10 a.m., during which over 50 huts were demolished.
Clearance Drive in Sutardara, Kothrud
In the Kothrud-Bavdhan Ward Office jurisdiction, a massive encroachment clearance operation was conducted from Sutardara Datt Mandir Chowk to Char Nal Chowk and Chhatrapati Shambhuraje Chowk to Sutardara. Encroachments included handcarts, stalls, iron counters, pavement structures, and sheds.
The operation involved officials from Circle 2 and Circle 3's encroachment removal departments, personnel from Kothrud Police Station, and Maharashtra Security Force members. Using JCB machines, the team removed 42 handcarts, 5 stalls, 5 iron counters, 17 pavement structures, and 27 sheds.
Deputy Commissioner Avinash Sakpal assured that PMC would continue taking consistent action against encroachments on roads and footpaths across the city.
