Pune: PMC Begins Search For Alternate Sites After High Court Orders DP Relocation; ₹300 Crore Required For Project
Pune: PMC Begins Search For Alternate Sites After High Court Orders DP Relocation; ₹300 Crore Required For Project
Pune: The Bombay High Court has ordered the removal of Distribution Panels (DPs) installed on city footpaths that obstruct pedestrian movement. This directive has put the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in a bind, as it now must figure out where to relocate over 3,500 DPs. The relocation is estimated to cost more than ₹300 crore.
The existing DPs on footpaths have raised safety concerns for pedestrians and have been the subject of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed three years ago by social activist Qaneez Sukhrani. She argued that these structures infringe upon pedestrian rights and compromise their safety. After hearing both sides, the High Court bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M. S. Karnik ruled in favor of pedestrian safety and ordered the removal of DPs from all footpaths.
The judgment emphasized that it is the civic body’s responsibility to ensure basic infrastructure for safe walking spaces. Following the court’s order, PMC’s road and electrical departments have begun searching for alternate locations to shift the DPs.
Currently, there are over 3,500 DPs on footpaths in various parts of the city. These include panels belonging to the electricity department (MahaVitaran), PMC’s streetlight system, police traffic control lights, and telecom companies. A major challenge is finding new locations—especially in central areas—where there is a lack of space and reluctance from property owners to allocate land for this purpose.
According to PMC officials, relocating a single DP costs between ₹1–3 lakh, while shifting a transformer may cost ₹7–8 lakh. This puts the total expenditure at around ₹300 crore. Discussions have started with senior officials to seek their guidance on executing the relocation while complying with the court’s directive.
Current Status of DPs on Footpaths:
- MahaVitaran (Small and Large DPs): 2,500
- Transformers: 100
- PMC Streetlight DPs: 2,500
- Traffic Control Signal DPs: 300
“Everyone claims a right to the footpaths, except pedestrians. That’s why I filed this PIL three years ago. The court’s verdict has finally held the civic body accountable,” said Qaneez Sukhrani, Petitioner.
“Even if constructed as per norms, footpaths are misused post-construction by encroachers and other obstructions. The PMC must not only follow the High Court’s direction on grievance redressal but also publish the list of responsible officers and their contact numbers on its website,” she said.
