Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) construction department conducted another round of demolitions on Friday (July 12), targeting 11 unauthorized showrooms and hotels in Pashan on the Pune-Mumbai highway.

Approximately 90,000 square feet of illegal construction was dismantled during the operation.

Following the Porsche accident case in Kalyaninagar, PMC had initiated a crackdown on rooftop hotels, pubs, and other unauthorized constructions across the city, leading to action against about 144 establishments.

However, the enforcement had slowed down until drugs were found in a hotel on Fergusson Road. This incident prompted PMC to resume their efforts, starting from Fergusson Road and extending to Baner, Kharadi, Aundh, Sinhagad Road, and Shivajinagar.

Anti-encroachment operation in Pashan targeted constructions within the restricted area of the HEMRL (High Energy Materials Research Laboratory) defense zone, following complaints from HEMRL. The area also falls under the PSP (Public/Semi-Public) zone.

Out of the 11 properties, seven owners had obtained court stay orders, exempting them from demolition. The operation involved the use of cutter machines, two JCBs, gas cutters, breakers, 15 laborers, and police personnel.

Officers from Chatuhshrungi police station were also present. As a precaution, a fire brigade vehicle was kept on standby, according to PMC construction department official Sunil Kadam.

A few days back, PMC's anti-encroachment squad, with heavy police security, dismantled the structures on land under the jurisdiction of the central government along Bund Garden Road.

Plot number 246 on Bund Garden Road had a total of 133 encroachments, including 35 residential units, 94 commercial establishments, three temples, and a public toilet. These structures had been in place for 20 to 25 years.