PMC demolishes unauthorised construction from Mhatre bridge to Rajaram bridge
Chaitraly Deshmukh
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Vikram Kumar has been taking stern action against unauthorised construction across Pune city. Today, D P road near Mhatre bridge was no exception.
Several such illegal construction were demolished down where in marriage halls, restaurants, garages, etc were demolished using JCB’S and full bandobast by Pune Police. The PMC started action at 6 am and around 7.30 am the traders rushed to the spot. In order to stop the action, the hotel and marriage hall operators in the area demanded to stop the action by putting pressure via political leaders, but the administration work continued.
As many as 20 JCBs, nine gas cutters and three breakers were used in this action. Where the JCB could not go, the shed was smashed inside using the gas cutter. The operation started simultaneously through eight squads. Materials in hotels, shops, garages were damaged as JCB was directly attacking construction, sheds.
The action taken by PMC commissioner Vikram Kumar could not be done for so many years due to political pressure but after the administration role commenced due to the postponement of elections, these actions have been under limelight. On the road between Mhatre bridge and Rajaram bridge, about one and a half kilometers away, several marriage halls situated on the street have been demolished.
Over the last few years, the hotels have sprung up on this street with a wide variety of food items. So there was a big crowd in this area. The corporation had earlier taken action against the encroachments, but not all the traders. But on Wednesday afternoon, the Pune Municipal Corporation issued a notice and took action against the police.
PMC’s Executive Engineer Bipin Shinde said, “The Encroachment Department and the building and construction Department have taken joint action. Before taking this action, notices were issued to 73 parties. The court stayed the action against four hotels and one marriage hall. So, the rest were dealt with through eight squads. Three senior police officers, 25 police personnel, 200 PMC employees, 60 security guards, 25 vehicles, as well as 20 JCBs, 9 gas cutters and 3 breakers were used. Now that the unauthorized construction and encroachment has been demolished, care will be taken that these don’t come up again. “
