A cycle race held at Pune’s protected Sinhagad Fort between October 22 and 25 used a route segment that had not been cleared by the Archaeological Department, even though the organisers had obtained permission from the Forest Department for the portion under its jurisdiction.
The downhill cycling event’s final round was conducted along the Pune Darwaza–Atkarwadi route. According to a report by Sakal – Pune, the starting point near the second Pune Gate and a section of the steps below it fall within the Archaeological Department’s protected area. Permission for that section had not been obtained.
The Forest Department’s approval covered a trail below the fort’s fortifications and applied only to land under its control. Pune Deputy Conservator of Forests Abhijit Waikos said the approval had been granted after a report from the Bhamburda forest range officer, with the organisers and participants accepting personal responsibility and complying with specified conditions.
The route reportedly included a wooden platform measuring about half a foot to one foot in height near the starting point. The steps following the platform, the first gate and an estimated 50 to 100 metres of steps below it were within the Archaeological Department’s boundary. The Forest Department’s jurisdiction began further ahead from the wall alongside the steps, according to the report.
The event also disrupted access for visitors. The Forest Department had instructed organisers not to close the route on Saturday and Sunday because of the large number of tourists visiting Sinhagad. Organisers were made responsible for ensuring that visitors were not obstructed. However, the trail was kept closed during the race, causing inconvenience to tourists and residents who visit the fort for exercise.
The issue highlights the administrative difficulty of conducting events at sites where jurisdiction is divided between multiple public authorities. A Forest Department approval could not authorise activity inside the Archaeological Department’s protected area, leaving the organisers responsible for obtaining separate clearance for the full route.
The report said the Archaeological Department had not, by Monday, received official information about the event from either the organisers or the Forest Department. Dr Vilas Vahane, joint director of the Archaeological Department, said the department had not permitted such a competition at the fort. He said organisers would be issued a notice and fined, while action would also be taken against people cycling illegally or performing stunts at the site.
Waikos said the Forest Department would seek information from the organisers regarding the event. He added that if the organisation had violated the conditions imposed for the competition, action would be taken against it. He also said that because the race was a private event, informing local residents was the responsibility of the concerned organisation.
The next formal steps are expected to include the Archaeological Department’s notice to the organisers, its assessment of the unauthorised activity and the Forest Department’s review of compliance with the conditions attached to its permission.
