Pune: Mohammadwadi Residents Demand FIR Against PMC Over ‘Illegal’ SM Ghule Circle Expansion
Mohammadwadi, 12th August 2025: In a serious escalation of civic unrest, residents of the NIBM Annexe–Mohammadwadi area have strongly condemned the unauthorized and unilateral expansion of the SM Ghule Circle by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), alleging it was carried out without public consultation, traffic police clearance, or adherence to legal protocols. Local citizens have now called for an FIR to be lodged against the PMC road department officials responsible for this gross violation of planning norms and public trust.
Prominent area residents Jaymala Dhankikar, Raj Singh, Ashok Mehendale, Uday Kulkarni, and Sayali Gosavi have collectively warned that this unscientific and illegal expansion will inevitably lead to traffic gridlock, heightened accident risk, and long-term civic inconvenience.
They emphasized that the new circle structure obstructs driver visibility, creates erratic merging points, and completely ignores Indian Roads Congress (IRC) safety standards.
“This is not just poor planning—it is dangerous. No citizen was consulted, no traffic study was conducted, and even the traffic police were kept in the dark,” said Raj Singh, adding that PMC’s actions show complete disregard for democratic process and public safety.
Jaymala Dhankikar called it a “reckless violation of civic accountability,” stating that PMC officials acted unilaterally, never taking local residents into confidence. “This is a junction used by thousands every day, including school children, senior citizens, and emergency vehicles. Such blind expansion puts all lives at risk,” she said.
It has now emerged that even the traffic department was not officially informed, further deepening concerns about procedural lapses. Citizen groups have submitted formal complaints demanding that an inquiry be instituted immediately against the concerned PMC officials, and that any structure erected in violation of the law be dismantled or stayed until full legal compliance is established.
Uday Kulkarni pointed out that instead of easing traffic flow, the circle’s expansion has already led to confusion and congestion. “The structure is flawed, lacks engineering logic, and is a textbook case of bureaucratic overreach,” he said.
A call for urgent legal action has been made, with residents seeking intervention from the Police Commissioner, Traffic Department, and State Government. If authorities fail to act, citizens have warned that they are prepared to escalate the matter through legal channels, including FIRs, RTIs, and Public Interest Litigations (PILs).
With pressure mounting, civic groups are now waiting to see whether the PMC will be held accountable for what is widely being viewed as an act of administrative illegality and public endangerment.
