Pune Highway Encroachments to be Cleared in 30 Days, Says PMRDA Commissioner
Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 27th February 2025: With traffic congestion increasing across Pune and its surrounding areas, commuters and vehicle owners are facing daily hardships. In an effort to find a lasting solution, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) held a joint meeting of various agencies on Thursday under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Yogesh Mhase, where several key decisions were made.
During the meeting, officials from multiple departments discussed traffic congestion on national and state highways in and around Pune. It was unanimously decided that a joint operation would be undertaken over the next 30 days to remove unauthorized stalls, encroachments, and temporary constructions along these highways, which have been contributing to traffic congestion.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Mhase said, “Encroachments on highways and key roads are a major cause of traffic congestion. We have decided to carry out a joint action plan in coordination with various departments to clear these obstructions. Citizens and business owners are requested to voluntarily remove unauthorized structures to avoid legal action.”
The action will be carried out in areas under PMRDA, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). To prevent future encroachments, officials plan to conduct eviction drives twice a year along Pune city limits and the PCMC region.
Dr. Mhase also urged citizens to seek proper permissions before undertaking any construction along highways. “Unauthorized constructions disrupt traffic and create safety hazards. We appeal to the public to ensure compliance with regulations and obtain necessary approvals before building structures,” he added.
Action Plan and Key Locations Identified
A detailed schedule has been set for the removal of encroachments on major highways:
Pune – Solapur Road (Hadapsar to Yavat, and Urulikanchan to Shindavane) – March 3 to March 10
Pune – Nashik Road (Rajgurunagar) – March 3 to March 10
Chandni Chowk to Paud – March 3 to March 10
Pune – Satara Road (Navale Bridge to Sarola) – March 10 to March 20
Sus Road – March 10 to March 20
Hadapsar (Shewalwadi) to Dive Ghat – March 10 to March 20
Navlakha Umbre to Chakan – March 10 to March 20
Hinjewadi Area – Maan – March 10 to March 20
Talegaon – Chakan – Shikrapur – March 10 to March 20
Senior Officials Present at the Meeting
The meeting was attended by top officials from various departments, including:
Manoj Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police, Pune City
Dipti Suryavanshi-Patil, Joint Commissioner
Asha Jadhav, Superintendent of Land Records
Sanjay Kadam, Project Director, National Highways Authority
Makarand Nikam, City Engineer, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
Bapu Bangar, DCP (Traffic), Pimpri Chinchwad Police
Nandini Vagyani, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Pune City
Maheshkumar Sartape, Police Inspector
Other senior officials from PMC, PCMC, MIDC, and Public Works Department
With these concrete measures, authorities hope to significantly reduce traffic congestion in Pune and its metropolitan region. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the effectiveness of this coordinated effort.
