Pune Municipal Corporation has demolished a six-storey residential and commercial structure built on about 21,000 square feet of land reserved for a playground in Kharadi, after the property was allegedly rebuilt repeatedly despite earlier demolition action. The civic administration also plans to file criminal charges against those involved in the construction, according to a PMC executive engineer.
The demolition drive targeted the structure erected on a plot that was intended to remain vacant until a playground could be developed. PMC officials said the illegal construction covered roughly 21,000 square feet. The action followed objections from local residents, who raised concerns about the loss of land reserved for a public recreational facility.
Pravin Shende, executive engineer in PMC’s building permission department, said the property had been demolished earlier but was rebuilt by the developers. He said the civic administration would now initiate criminal proceedings against the individuals involved in the construction.
The case places attention on the enforcement gap between unauthorised construction becoming visible on the ground and municipal action. Residents questioned why civic officials did not stop the project before it reached six storeys. Their objections also raise concerns about how reserved public land is monitored during the construction process.
Urban planner and interior designer Ketaki Paranjape said illegal construction is linked to several pressures, including rapid urban migration, demand for affordable housing and rising land prices. She said cheaper, unapproved structures can become attractive to occupants while creating opportunities for builders operating outside regulatory controls.
Paranjape also pointed to weak monitoring by civic authorities and gram panchayats, as well as political pressure that can delay action against unauthorised projects. She called for regular anti-encroachment drives, more building inspectors and action against architects and builders who facilitate illegal projects, including possible blacklisting.
The PMC’s proposed criminal charges will determine the next formal step in the Kharadi case. The demolition also leaves the reserved plot available for the playground use identified for the site, although the source report does not specify a timeline for its development.
