Pune Police And PMC Launches ‘Surgical Strike’ On Illegal Hoardings; Joint Drive To Remove Encroachments And Abandoned Vehicles
Pune Police And PMC Launches ‘Surgical Strike’ On Illegal Hoardings; Joint Drive To Remove Encroachments And Abandoned Vehicles
Pune, March 11, 2026: In an effort to tackle the growing problem of illegal hoardings, visual clutter, and traffic obstructions in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pune City Police have announced a joint enforcement drive beginning Thursday (March 12). The campaign will focus on removing unauthorized hoardings, clearing footpath encroachments, taking action against illegal street vendors, and towing away abandoned vehicles from public roads.
The decision was announced by Amitesh Kumar and Navalkishore Ram during a press conference held after a joint meeting of senior officials at the Police Commissioner’s office on Wednesday. Ranjankumar Sharma was also present during the briefing.
Officials stated that the special drive is aimed at improving the city’s appearance and ensuring smoother traffic flow through coordinated action between the police and civic administration. Unauthorized hoardings will be removed immediately, and if the responsible parties fail to take them down voluntarily, criminal cases will be registered against the individuals involved, including printers and publishers responsible for producing the hoardings.
To address traffic congestion, authorities have identified several major junctions where encroachments and bottlenecks slow down vehicle movement. These obstacles will be cleared to ensure smoother traffic flow across key roads.
The administration has also identified around 400 locations where waterlogging occurs during the monsoon. Repairs to drainage lines and related infrastructure will be undertaken before the rainy season to prevent flooding on roads.
Action will also be taken against abandoned vehicles that have been parked on roads for extended periods. Such vehicles will be towed and taken into custody. Authorities will also crack down on unauthorized street vendors operating along prominent roads including Fergusson College Road and Jangli Maharaj Road.
According to officials, 527 cases related to encroachments were registered in the city over the past year.
Strict action will also be taken against vendors selling tobacco, pan masala, and gutkha within 100 meters of educational institutions. The drive will be implemented through coordination between local police stations and the respective ward offices of the municipal corporation.
Authorities said local elected representatives and citizens will also be involved in the campaign, expressing confidence that visible improvements in the city’s appearance and traffic conditions will be seen within a week.
Focus on Strengthening Public Transport
Officials added that both short-term and long-term measures are being implemented to improve public transport in the city. Encroachments at major intersections and bottleneck points affecting traffic movement will be removed to help increase vehicle speed and reduce congestion.
Action Against Heavy Vehicles
To ensure public safety, restrictions have already been imposed on heavy vehicles during peak traffic hours in the city. However, some drivers have been found violating these rules. Authorities stated that action is being taken against such vehicles using CCTV surveillance, and criminal cases may be registered where necessary.
