The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has removed 85 encroachments from Chakan Industrial Area Phase 2 in Pune district during a police-protected drive, clearing reported obstructions along roads connected to the Pune-Nashik Highway and the Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur corridor.
The action began on August 30 after MIDC issued notices to around 150 encroachments in the Chakan area. According to MIDC executive engineer Prakash Bhandange, 85 encroachments in Phase 2 were removed over two days. The drive targeted roadside commercial structures, including scrap shops, tea stalls, hotels, sweet shops and garages, which officials said were affecting traffic movement.
The clearance operation was conducted with police protection because the authorities anticipated opposition from affected businesses. Bhandange said further action would be taken in Phases 1, 3 and 4 after police protection is made available. The official did not specify a date for the next phase in the statement cited by Loksatta.
Chakan’s industrial area has faced complaints related to traffic congestion, damaged and pothole-filled roads and deteriorating infrastructure. The issues became more prominent after small-scale industries in the area warned that they could consider relocating if the conditions were not addressed. Government agencies have since accelerated road repair work, according to the report.
The latest action follows instructions attributed to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar last week. Pawar directed government agencies to take strict action against encroachments in the Chakan area without making exceptions and appealed to local residents to cooperate with the administration.
MIDC superintendent engineer Nilesh Modhwe said encroachment on public roads, traffic spaces or government land was not permissible. He described the enforcement action as part of an effort to make Chakan a congestion-free, safer and more orderly industrial area.
The Pune-Nashik Highway and the Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur Highway are important road links for movement through the industrial belt. The report says the removal of the 85 structures has cleared traffic obstructions, while road repairs and action against encroachments in the remaining phases are still pending. MIDC’s next step is to proceed against notified encroachments in Phases 1, 3 and 4 once police deployment is arranged.
