Pune, 12 March 2026: Authorities have launched a large-scale drive against illegal hoardings and roadside encroachments in the city. Beginning Thursday, Pune Police and the municipal corporation will carry out a joint operation to remove unauthorised hoardings, clear encroachments on footpaths, take action against illegal street vendors and tow away abandoned vehicles from roads.
The decision was announced after a joint meeting of senior officials held at the police commissionerate on Wednesday. Addressing the media, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said the campaign aims to reduce visual clutter, improve road safety and make the city cleaner and more organised. Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjankumar Sharma was also present.
Officials said illegal hoardings will be removed immediately. If owners fail to take them down voluntarily, cases will be registered against the persons responsible, as well as the printers and publishers involved in producing them.
Authorities have also identified several traffic bottlenecks across the city where encroachments and roadside obstructions slow down vehicle movement. These locations will be cleared to improve traffic flow.
The administration has also mapped nearly 400 spots where waterlogging occurs on roads, and repair work on drainage lines will be undertaken before the monsoon.
Vehicles left unattended on roads for long periods will be towed away and taken into custody. Action will also be taken against unauthorised street vendors on major roads such as Gopal Krishna Gokhale Road (Fergusson College Road), Jungli Maharaj Road and other busy stretches in the city.
Officials added that over the past year, 527 cases have been registered in Pune related to encroachments.
Authorities also said strict action will be taken against pan stalls and vendors selling tobacco or gutkha within 100 metres of educational institutions. The drive will be carried out jointly by local police stations and municipal ward offices, with participation from local representatives and citizens.
Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said the coordinated effort is intended to keep Pune clean and improve traffic conditions, adding that visible changes in the city are expected within the coming week.
The administration is also focusing on strengthening the city’s public transport system through both short-term and long-term measures. Clearing encroachments and traffic bottlenecks at major junctions is expected to improve traffic speed and reduce congestion.
Meanwhile, officials warned that heavy vehicles entering the city during restricted hours will face strict action. CCTV cameras are being used to monitor violations, and criminal cases may be filed against drivers who repeatedly break the rules.
