Pune: Pimple Saudagar Sees Major Anti-Encroachment Drive, Residents Demand Sustained Action
Pune: Pimple Saudagar Sees Major Anti-Encroachment Drive, Residents Demand Sustained Action
Pune, November 10, 2025: In a decisive move to reclaim public spaces, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) conducted a large-scale anti-encroachment drive in the bustling neighbourhood of Pimple Saudagar. The operation saw coordinated action from multiple civic departments to dismantle illegal structures and clear footpaths, aiming to decongest key thoroughfares long plagued by unauthorized occupation.
The drive, which lasted several hours, targeted illegal extensions from shops and hawkers occupying road margins. Armed with demolition tools, civic teams worked to restore pedestrian pathways that had been substantially reduced, forcing residents to walk on busy roads.
Officials stated that the action was part of a continued effort to enforce urban development norms. Vijay Abhane, Office In-charge of D-Ward (Right to Information and Hawkers), clarified that the drive was not without warning. “This drive is part of our ongoing effort to ensure that public spaces remain accessible to all citizens. We have issued multiple notices to the offenders prior to this action. Our focus is on ensuring compliance with urban development norms,” he said.
The scope of the action was comprehensive, targeting various forms of encroachment. Pooja Rathod, Beat Inspector from the Building Permissions department of D-Ward, confirmed the drive focused on “unauthorized construction, hawkers, and all such encroachments within the ward.”
However, officials also acknowledged a persistent challenge. A civic team member involved in the flex removal and demolition squad noted, “Despite us removing encroachments, people often return and set up their stalls at the same place once we leave. Still, we are continuing our efforts.”
The drive was met with widespread approval from local residents, who have long endured the inconveniences and dangers caused by the encroachments.
Ramesh Patel, a resident of Rose Icon Society, expressed relief, stating, “The footpaths were completely taken over by vendors and shop extensions, forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads. This action was much needed.”
Echoing this sentiment but calling for stricter, long-term measures, Priyanka Jopulkar from Kunal Icon Society said, “The administration needs to take a strict decision on this. Due to hawker encroachments, the roads have become so narrow that there is no space to walk. Even after repeated actions, the encroachments persistently return. Our expectation is that the corporation or the administration must take a firm decision on this matter.”
The drive was not without its detractors. Hawkers and some shopkeepers, whose structures were dismantled, opposed the action, arguing that it threatens their livelihood without providing a solution. “We have been operating here for years. The corporation should provide us with an alternative space,” argued a street vendor, highlighting the complex human element at the heart of the city’s encroachment issue.
The PCMC has assured that such drives will continue in a phased manner across the city, underscoring its commitment to sustainable urban mobility and resident safety. The challenge, however, remains in balancing stringent enforcement with sustainable solutions for all stakeholders.
