Pune: PMC Acquires Land To Expand Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Halt In Bhavani PethÂ
Pune: PMC Acquires Land To Expand Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Halt In Bhavani Peth
Ajay kumar
Pune, June 24, 2026: In a rare instance of swift land acquisition, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has successfully taken possession of a five-guntha plot in Bhawani Peth within just three months to facilitate arrangements for the annual Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi procession. Demolition of the existing structure on the site has already begun to create additional space ahead of the Palkhi’s arrival in the city on July 8.
Traditionally, Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s Palkhi halts at the Palkhi Vitthoba Temple in Bhawani Peth. However, the growing number of devotees and increasing crowd management challenges in recent years had made the available space inadequate. As a result, the Alandi Devasthan had reportedly considered shifting the Palkhi halt to another location within Pune, sparking concern among devotees and local residents.
Determined to preserve the long-standing tradition, citizens, public representatives, and local leaders urged the state government not to relocate the Palkhi halt. MLA Hemant Rasane and former corporator Vishal Dhanawade met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and requested that the historic halt remain at Bhawani Peth.
To create additional space in the area, the PMC undertook action against encroachments and unauthorized constructions. Simultaneously, officials from the Property Management Department, including Deputy Commissioner Prashant Thombre, Sub-Engineer Mushtaq Bagwan, Rajendra Thorat, and Junior Engineer Dhanraj Gitte, initiated efforts to acquire the adjacent five-guntha plot.
Following discussions with the landowners, the civic administration finalized a compensation agreement and acquired the land by paying ₹4.30 crore. Possession of the plot was secured last week.
With Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s Palkhi scheduled to arrive in Pune on July 8, civic authorities have accelerated demolition and site-clearing work to ensure a larger and more convenient space for devotees and the traditional procession.
