Pune: PCMC demolition drive a ‘farce’, say Wakad residents

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: A drive was conducted by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to remove encroachments along Dutt Mandir Road in Wakad on Thursday.
However, the civic body’s action did not go down well with the local residents who dubbed the drive as “farce”.
Speaking to TOI, Sudesh Raje, president, Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation, said, “Only two JCBs were used to remove hoardings and other minor structures on the civic land.The PCMC did not take any action to acquire the land which is in its possession for road widening. This shows that today’s demolition drive was just a farce ”
Another resident, Avinash Takte Patil, said, “The demolition drive was not conducted against the unauthorised stalls at the chowpatty near Ambedkar colony along Dutt Mandir Road.”
The 2km-long Dutt Mandir Road extends from near Dange chowk on Sangvi-Kiwale BRTS Road to Wakad municipal school chowk on Nashik phata-Wakad BRTS Road.
Though the development plan mentions the width of the road as 45 metres, its breadth is just half in reality. Around 10 to 20 housing societies and various commercial complexes are located along this main road in Wakad due to which there is heavy movement of traffic.
Many stalls have come up along the road on open land. As vehicles are parked on the road most of the time, they cause obstacles to free flow of traffic. So, there are long traffic snarls during peak morning and evening hours.
Shirish Poredi, spokesperson, engineering department, PCMC, said, “Farmers had sold their land to builders, who while getting permission for construction of residential and commercial projects, had handed over the land to the civic body and received transfer of development of rights (TDR) in lieu. Encroachments had taken place on the land handed over to the PCMC which were removed during the demolition drive.”
Satish Ingale, executive engineer, building permission and unauthorised construction control department, said, “Action was taken on a 20,588 sqft area along Dutt Mandir Road. Four tin sheds, 12 ottas (platforms), 3 stalls, 1 gate, 1 staircase, 25 boards and 8 compound walls were removed in the daylong drive. Police personnel, and civic employees participated in the drive.”