Pune: PMC Demolishes Portions of Goodluck Cafe, Vaishali Restaurant on FC Road
Shivajinagar, 7th May 2025: In a fresh wave of anti-encroachment action, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) targeted several popular commercial establishments, including the iconic Vaishali restaurant on Ferguson Road, for alleged unauthorized construction.
PMC officials, accompanied by a JCB machine, demolished parts of the extended premises outside Vaishali, citing encroachment on public land. The action quickly drew attention as videos of the demolition went viral on social media, sparking debate among citizens about urban planning and fairness of civic enforcement.
The action comes just days after the PMC cracked down on Goodluck Cafe, another legendary Pune eatery on Fergusson College Road, in a similar operation targeting illegal constructions in the area.
As part of the broader drive, PMC enforcement squads also took action against multiple shops and establishments in Deccan Gymkhana, JM Road, and Ferguson Road. Officials said that structures found to be in violation of civic norms—including encroachments on footpaths and public spaces—were cleared.
“This is part of a routine drive to remove illegal structures across prime commercial areas. No one is exempt,” said a senior PMC official, requesting anonymity.
Both Vaishali and Goodluck Cafe are regarded as cultural landmarks in Pune, frequented by generations of Punekars and tourists. While the civic body maintains that the action is lawful and necessary, some residents and social media users expressed concern over the suddenness and scale of the operation.
As the debate intensifies, civic activists have welcomed the action, calling it long overdue, while others question whether enforcement is being applied uniformly across the city.
