Pune: Illegal structures razed to tackle traffic congestion
Pune: Illegal structures razed to tackle traffic congestion
Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (PMRDA) enforcement action led to the demolition of 120+ unauthorized structures, occupying over 15,000 square feet, by Thursday afternoon. This move aims to alleviate the worsening traffic congestion in the area, which has been exacerbated by rampant illegal construction.
For a long time, Wagholi was facing severe issues of traffic mismanagement, encroachment, and bad road conditions, leading to frequent accidents almost every day.
Instead of this, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, accompanied by Shirur MLA Dnyaneshwar Katke, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Chief Engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar, and PMRDA officials, conducted an inspection of the Kharadi-Wagholi route earlier this week. The inspection revealed several factors contributing to traffic congestion, including poor road conditions, reckless driving, construction debris, and roadside encroachments. Kumar instructed the traffic police and civic agencies to take strict action against various traffic violations, such as wrong-side driving, triple-seat riding, overcrowded auto-rickshaws, and unauthorized vendors occupying road space.
In a continued effort to tackle traffic congestion, a joint operation between the PMRDA and the Public Works Department (PWD) successfully cleared encroachments from key traffic corridors. This operation was conducted under the watchful eyes of MLA Katke and Commissioner Kumar, who oversaw the removal of illegal structures. Following the clearance drive, PMRDA officials appealed to residents to refrain from unauthorized construction in the future, emphasizing the importance of adhering to regulations to prevent further traffic bottlenecks.
The demolition drive was overseen by a team of top officials, including PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase, Superintendent of Police Amol Tambe, and Joint Commissioner Dr. Deepti Suryavanshi-Patil, who is responsible for unauthorized construction and removal. They were joined by Deputy Collector Pramod Kudale, Tehsildars Sachin Maske and Ravindra Ranjane, and Police Inspector Mahesh Kumar Sartape. Junior engineers and police personnel also played a crucial role in the drive, ensuring its successful execution.
This swift response is expected to greatly ease traffic congestion in the area. In fact, the PMRDA has already made significant headway, demolished over 120 illegal structures, and removed 40,000 square feet of encroachments in a recent six-hour operation. With this renewed focus on tackling illegal constructions, residents can look forward to improved traffic flow and a more streamlined commute.
PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase stated, “Our anti-encroachment department is proactively razing illegal structures, and we’re appealing to residents to take a proactive approach by voluntarily clearing encroachments and collaborating with the administration to maintain a smooth and orderly environment.”
