Pune: PMC Imposes Rs 80 Lakh Fine on Elina Builders for Unauthorized Road Excavation in Mohammadwadi
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Mohammadwadi, 24th October 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has imposed a penalty of ₹80,46,720 on Chaphalkar & Karandikar Developers — builders of Elina Society, Mohammadwadi — for unauthorized road excavation near S.M. Ghule Chowk, NIBM Annexe, without civic permission.
According to an official notice (Ref. No. 2527, dated October 17, 2025) issued by the Chief Engineer of the Road Department, the developers were found responsible for digging up a 220-meter stretch of the newly built 24-meter-wide cement concrete road developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The illegal work reportedly took place late at night on October 13, when heavy machinery was used to dig into the road and lay high-voltage electrical cables — without a valid work order or road-cutting permission from the PMC.
Local residents and activists intervened after noticing the activity.
Social worker and former member of the PMC Primary Education Board, Ashok Mehendale, who witnessed the incident, said, “On the night of October 13, my wife and I saw illegal excavation work near the Elina Builders site. When I asked the workers about permission from PMC, they denied having any. First, they claimed the work was for MSEDCL, and later mentioned an ex-corporator’s name. I told them such work cannot continue without permission and immediately informed PMC officials.”
Another local activist, Jaymala Dhankikar, a social activist and BJP member, also raised the issue directly with the Chief Engineer of PMC, demanding action. In her written complaint, she stated:
“On Saturday night near EDP–S.M. Ghule Chowk, Mohammadwadi, a private contractor was seen carrying out unauthorized cement concrete and footpath digging work without any PMC work order or permission. When Ashok Mehendale questioned the illegal activity, he was threatened by the contractor’s team. This raises serious concerns — how was such work allowed, and who is backing this contractor? Please clarify if any official tender or permission exists, and whether action has been taken against those responsible.”
Following the complaints, PMC conducted an inspection and confirmed that M/s. Chaphalkar & Karandikar Developers, of Elina Society, had indeed carried out the unauthorized road-cutting work.
Based on the findings, the developer was fined ₹26,82,440 as the base road-cutting charge, along with a threefold penalty, bringing the total to ₹80,46,720. The civic body has also directed that no new construction permissions or related actions be processed for the builder until the full amount is paid.
PMC officials — including Executive Engineer Anil Sonawane, Deputy Engineer Avinash Kamthe, and Division Head Aniruddha Bavaskar — have been commended for taking prompt action after the residents’ alert.
Social activists have urged citizens across Pune to remain vigilant against such unauthorized activities.
“People must come forward and take a stand against illegal construction and excavation. Only collective vigilance can stop such misuse of public property,” said Dhankikar.
