Tilak Chowk Hoarding Menace Ends as Pune Municipal Corporation Takes Action
Sadashiv Peth, 2nd February 2024: In a decisive move, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) executed the removal of illegally erected hoardings in Tilak Chowk (Alka Talkies Chowk) on Thursday. This action came after persistent violations of rules and safety concerns were raised, highlighting the risks posed to public safety.
The three hoardings, positioned behind the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj police chowky, were erected in blatant disregard of regulations. Despite previous suspensions of hoarding work and a ban on advertising in such spaces, the Kasba Vishram Bagh Ward Office, in a surprising move, proposed leasing space to the same hoarding businessman for eleven months.
The irregularities were exposed by media prompting the municipal administration to halt hoarding work in August and initiate an investigation. In connection with this matter, three employees of the Kasba Vishram Bagh Ward Office were suspended. However, the persistence of the issue led Additional Commissioner Kunal Khemnar to direct the concerned department to propose the immediate removal of the hoarding.
On Wednesday, the court rejected the plea filed by the hoarding businessman to stay the municipal corporation’s action, paving the way for the removal process. The Municipal Encroachment Department took swift action on Thursday morning, deploying cranes and JCB machines to dismantle the illegal hoardings. The team, comprising officers and employees of the encroachment department, ensured a seamless execution of the removal process, emphasizing the commitment to upholding public safety.
Madhav Jagtap, Deputy Commissioner of the Encroachment Department at Pune Municipal Corporation, affirmed, “The court’s rejection of the plea to stay the action regarding the illegal hoarding in Tilak Chowk reaffirms our commitment to enforcing regulations promptly. The removal of the hoarding skeleton is a crucial step in ensuring the safety and well-being of the citizens.”
