PMRDA cracks down on illegal hoardings along palkhi route

Pune: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has initiated action against unauthorised hoarding structures along the Palkhi route in preparation for the upcoming Ashadhi wari.The administration demolished 21 such illegal structures in the past week alone, with plans to remove the remaining illegal hoardings within the next 10 days, a senior PMRDA official said.A PMRDA team on Tuesday took action against unauthorised hoardings along the Pune-Solapur highway near Loni Kalbhor. The initiative aims to ensure the safety of warkaris (devotees) during the annual procession of the palkhis of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj on their journey to Pandharpur.The palkhi of Sant Tukaram Maharaj is scheduled to depart from the Dehu temple on June 18, while Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj's palkhi will leave Alandi on June 19. Both processions will arrive in Pune city on June 20 and further depart towards Lord Vitthal-Rukmini temple in Pandharpur on June 22.A senior PMRDA official said they have also asked National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take action against illegal structures within its jurisdiction. "Most of the unauthorised hoardings are along Sant Tukaram Maharaj's palkhi route. We have prepared a plan to remove all of them," the official added.Dipti Suryavanshi Patil, deputy district Collector at PMRDA, said the drive against unauthorised hoardings across PMRDA limits began on April 22. So far, 46 hoardings have been demolished, including 21 on the palkhi route."Before starting the drive, we held a meeting with the hoarding association and urged them to seek official permissions to avoid action," she said.Last week, PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase convened a review meeting with officials concerned to intensify action against unauthorised hoardings. According to officials, a total of 967 illegal structures were identified during the survey, of which 90 have already been removed. The remaining are slated for demolition, especially those that pose a risk to public safety and obstruct traffic."Hoarding owners must obtain proper permission from PMRDA to avoid punitive action. These unauthorised structures pose a serious threat to public safety, especially during heavy rain and strong winds, which is why we launched this drive," said Sanjay Kadam, joint commissioner of PMRDA.