Pune: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has finalized a contractor to remove unauthorized hoardings in nine tehsils including Mulshi under which the Hinjewadi IT park areas come.

A recent PMRDA survey identified nearly a thousand unauthorized hoardings, advertisement boards, and signboards in the first phase. Notices were issued to violators, urging them to apply for proper approvals.

The tender process to appoint a contractor for removing unauthorized hoardings initially failed twice but succeeded on the third attempt. However, the tender opening was delayed due to the Lok Sabha election Model Code of Conduct. Following the lifting of the code, tenders were opened on Monday (June 10), and Harshada Constructions was awarded the contract for Pune district.

PMRDA Commissioner Rahul Mahiwal, who also holds the additional charge of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, will finalize the order after his approval. The crackdown will proceed in phases across the nine talukas under PMRDA, starting with Mulshi, which reported several incidents of falling hoardings last year. Local gram panchayats have been asked to provide relevant information.

Previously, the lack of a dedicated sky-sign license department at PMRDA led to the unchecked proliferation of unauthorized hoardings. With a new regulatory framework in place, PMRDA expects to generate additional revenue. Confiscated hoarding structures will be sold, with 35 per cent of the proceeds paid to PMRDA by the contractor.

PMRDA invited applications to regularize unauthorized hoardings, receiving around 341 applications from various villages, with the highest numbers from Mulshi and Maval Talukas.

Notable submissions include 76 from Hinjewadi, 26 from Bhugaon, 19 from Mann, and 15 from Bhukum. Reports on these applications have been submitted to the Commissioner for approval.

The impending crackdown, particularly in Hinjewadi and Mann, has alarmed those operating illegally. Following PMRDA's recent actions against unauthorized pubs, hotels, and resto-bars in Hinjewadi, the focus is now shifting to hoardings, putting violators on high alert.