Pune Police Launch Major Crackdown on Road Encroachments, File 14 Cases
Pune, 29th November 2024: In a bid to tackle traffic congestion and ensure smoother movement on major city roads, Pune police have filed 14 cases since Wednesday against individuals and businesses obstructing public pathways. These include illegally parked vehicles, hand carts, fast food stalls, and other encroachments. The cases were lodged in Parvati, Uttamnagar, Kothrud, and Bharati Vidyapeeth areas under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which carries a penalty of ₹5,000 upon conviction.
Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region) Manoj Patil stated, “We are not just relying on legal action. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been approached to assist in clearing these encroachments. The civic body has broader powers to remove them and can impose heavier penalties than the police.”
Patil emphasized that the crackdown would intensify along 32 key roads in the city, including Solapur Road, Ahmednagar Road, FC Road, JM Road, Karve Road, Satara Road, Sinhagad Road, and Ganeshkhind Road. “Encroachments are not only disrupting pedestrian movement but are also contributing to traffic bottlenecks during peak hours,” he added.
According to Patil, a pre-election citywide survey revealed significant encroachments reducing the usable width of roads and pavements. “During the elections, some encroachments were temporarily cleared, but now we are focusing on sustained action in collaboration with PMC,” he said.
