Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) undertook a large-scale cleaning drive along the seven-kilometer stretch from Rasashala on Karve Road to Ganpati Matha. This was part of the ongoing “Swachhata Hi Seva 2024” campaign, which aims to promote public cleanliness in key urban areas.
Special cleanup locations:
Karve Road from Swatantra Chowk to S.N.D.T. Chowk, Karve Statue, Vandevi Temple, Gulwani Maharaj Road, Samarth Path.
From Vandevi Karvenagar Chowk to Warje Wanjale Chowk on both sides of the road.
Wanjale Chowk, Shinde Bridge, Uttamnagar Achanak Chowk, Chaitanya Hospital, Kondhwe Dhawade, Kondhwa Gate via Gate No. 10.
The Warje-Karvenagar Ward Office spearheaded the effort, with a special tribute paid to Mahatma Gandhi. Assistant Commissioner Vijay Nayakal garlanded a statue of Gandhi in New Kopre village in a symbolic gesture to mark the occasion.
Present at the event was Bhagwan Gaikwad, along with senior PMC officials including Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management Sandeep Kadam, Deputy Commissioner Asha Raut, and Chief Health Inspector I.S. Inamdar.
Starting after midnight on Tuesday (October 1), teams of health inspectors, sweepers, and cleaning staff worked tirelessly throughout the night to clean the entire seven-kilometer route.
Special focus was given to the road's dividers, where large amounts of dirt and debris had accumulated. Around 4.5 tons of dirt were removed by scraping the dividers, while an additional 850 kg of dry waste was collected from areas with frequent littering, such as commercial complexes. The cleanup also included the collection of nearly one ton of organic waste, primarily leaves and branches.
Several locations, including Patwardhan Baug and Achanak Chowk in Shivane, notorious for being hotspots of garbage accumulation, received special attention. These sites were not only cleaned but also beautified as part of the initiative.
The Rajput Vitbhatthi riverbank area also saw a similar cleanup effort, where volunteers and municipal workers collected trash and revitalized the area.
This initiative was made possible through the collaborative efforts of multiple organizations, including the Lions Club, Central Mall, Marathwada College, and senior citizens led by Bhandarkar. Key contributors to the drive included Bharat Kamble, Kishor More, Amit Bhosale, and Sevavrat Foundation.
Senior staff members such as Rajendra Vairat, Prashant Damle, Vaibhav Ghatkambale, Rajesh Aher, Pradeepkumar Raut, Sachin Sawant, and Dattatraya Dalvi played crucial roles.
The team of cleaners and sweepers, led by Pramod Chavan, Khandu Kasbe, Santosh Thorat, and Sunil More, worked efficiently to ensure the success of the drive.