Pune: PMRDA demolishes two dangerous hoardings in Hinjawadi

Following instructions from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) initiated action against illegal hoardings in the Hinjawadi area. On Thursday, the PMRDA sky and sign department demolished two hoardings in Hinjawadi.

Ajit Pawar had held a meeting in Mantralaya on Wednesday, instructing PMRDA officials to take strict action on illegal hoardings in the PMRDA region. Subsequently, the PMRDA sky and sign department removed 1,600 square feet of illegal dangerous hoardings.

According to PMRDA officials, it takes time to demolish these structures due to their large size and steel construction. “To date, we dismantled two hoardings, one 40×40 feet and another 40×60 feet in size. Most of the hoardings are located in busy areas, making the process time-consuming,” said Sachin Maske, tahsildar and official of the PMRDA sky and sign department.

“We have identified illegal and dangerous hoardings in the PMRDA region and have started taking action on them. This will continue in the Hinjawadi area,” he added. There are 1,057 hoardings in the PMRDA region, out of which 472 structures are deemed illegal, and notices have been served to their respective owners.

The crackdown on illegal hoardings in Hinjawadi was kickstarted following a directive from Deputy CM Pawar. Over the past two days, three large hoardings have been removed. Pawar, who is also the guardian minister of Pune district, reviewed recent issues in Hinjawadi with officials from the PMRDA, MIDC, and PWD.

On Wednesday, PMRDA teams targeted three locations for hoarding removal. One hoarding was initially left for the owner to dismantle, but due to non-compliance, the PMRDA proceeded with its removal. The team arrived at the site on Wednesday morning to take down the disputed hoardings, and a massive 40-by-40-foot hoarding was eventually dismantled late into the night.

Action continued in the Hinjawadi area on Thursday, targeting two more unauthorized hoardings. The operation led to the temporary closure of the road and the deployment of a police force. According to a PMRDA survey, there are more than a thousand unauthorized hoardings. The crackdown has started in Mulshi taluka and will continue step by step. This action was initiated under the orders of PMRDA commissioner Rahul Mahiwal and metropolitan planner Sunil Marle.

Ajit Pawar recently reviewed the Hinjawadi area and suggested addressing various pending issues under PMRDA. Following his directives, the operation against unauthorized hoardings has gained momentum. However, the sky signs department of the PMRDA, established about a year ago, is facing a significant manpower shortage. With three employees having resigned, the department is left with only two to three staff members.

Due to this shortage, the department had to seek assistance from the unauthorized construction eradication department for recent actions against illegal hoardings. This inadequacy in manpower poses a risk to the removal of nearly a thousand unauthorized hoardings across nine talukas.