Pune: PMC to Seek Police Help to Evacuate Residents from 37 Unsafe Wadas
Pune, 4th July 2025: In a decisive move, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed to deploy police personnel to help evacuate residents from 37 dangerously dilapidated wadas (traditional housing complexes) in the city’s central areas. The civic body’s building department has submitted this proposal for approval to Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and plans to formally request assistance from the Police Commissioner shortly.
Out of 116 unsafe wadas that had been served eviction notices by the PMC, structural repairs or partial demolition work has been completed in 76. However, in the remaining 37 wadas, residents and tenants have refused to vacate, stalling further action.
Earlier, the PMC considered disconnecting water and electricity supplies to force evacuation, but dropped the idea over concerns about violating citizens’ basic rights. As a result, the building department now plans to carry out the evacuation with police assistance.
Of the 37 wadas, the highest number — 9 — are located in Raviwar Peth, followed by Bhavani Peth, Shukrawar Peth, and Ghorpadi Peth with five each, Budhwar Peth with four, Nana Peth with three, and the remaining spread across Sadashiv Peth, Guruwar Peth, and Shanivar Peth. With monsoon rains increasing the risk of collapse, the civic body has prioritized urgent evacuation.
Superintending Engineer Rajesh Banker stated that once the Commissioner approves, the operation to vacate these wadas with police protection will begin immediately.
