Pune: PMC’s Anti-Encroachment Drive Ensures Strict Action Against Unauthorized Occupation of Footpaths and Pavements
Pune, September 17, 2025: In a much desired stand to reclaim public spaces and ensure free movement for citizens, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) carried out a large-scale anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025. PMC’s Anti-Encroachment Drive targeted numerous unauthorized structures and illegal vendors clogging the city’s footpaths and roads.
The focused PMC Anti Encroachment initiative was executed across several key areas, including Dhole Patil, Kothrud-Bawdhan, Warje-Karvenagar, and Kondhwa-Yewalewadi-Bibvewadi. The drive aimed to address two major issues: illegal constructions eating into the mandatory front margins of properties and unauthorized street vending that obstructs footpaths.
PMC officials highlighted that the crackdown wasn’t just about removing physical structures. They also took strict action against street vendors who, despite having valid licenses or hawker certificates, were blatantly violating the terms of their permits. Common violations included operating from an unauthorized location instead of the one assigned to them, subletting their vending space to others (known as ‘potbhadakaru’), and engaging in businesses not permitted under their license.
A critical safety concern addressed was the illegal use of LPG gas cylinders by roadside vendors, which poses a significant fire risk in densely populated areas. The PMC Anti Encroachment teams were vigilant in identifying and taking action against such hazardous practices.
This widespread PMC’s Anti-Encroachment Drive is seen as a crucial step by the civic body to decongest streets and improve pedestrian safety. For residents, the drive promises clearer footpaths and smoother traffic flow, restoring the intended use of public infrastructure. The PMC has signaled that such enforcement actions will continue to be a priority to maintain order and safety in the city’s neighborhoods.
