Night-time excavation on Pune’s Katraj-Kondhwa Road was stopped after residents complained that heavy machinery was disturbing their sleep, putting the long-delayed road widening project under scrutiny over possible noise pollution violations.
Residents reportedly called the police helpline 112 after loud operations involving poclains and breakers continued during the night. Police reached the site and stopped the work, according to a report by Punekar News.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the 9- to 10-year delay in completing the Katraj-Kondhwa road widening project. The road has also recorded at least 21 deaths in accidents, resulting in repeated demands from residents and other stakeholders for the project to be completed quickly.
However, the attempt to accelerate construction has raised questions about whether excavation involving heavy machinery can be undertaken during restricted night hours. Noise pollution rules restrict construction, excavation and other high-noise activities at night, while courts have also issued directions concerning restrictions on noise pollution.
There was no immediate clarity on who authorised the use of poclains and breakers at night. Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare, deputy commissioner of Pune’s traffic branch, said permission had not been granted for night work on the road and that he would check the matter.
“Poclain and breaker work cannot be carried out at night as it involves noise pollution. No permission has been given so far to carry out night work on this road. I will check the matter and provide details,” Bhajibhakare said, according to the report.
Pune Municipal Corporation executive engineer Dhananjay Gaikwad said excavation was generally carried out during the day, while construction material such as murum was shifted at night. He added that poclains may have been operating at some locations and that he would verify the matter.
The competing demands are specific to a road project that residents have waited years to see completed. The widening is linked to safety concerns on the busy corridor, but night-time heavy machinery can directly affect households located along the road. The police intervention has therefore shifted attention from the project’s delay to the conditions under which work is being carried out.
The next steps depend on the checks promised by the traffic branch deputy commissioner and the PMC executive engineer, including whether night excavation was authorised and whether heavy machinery was used at locations along the road.
