Pune Municipal Corporation’s Road Department has imposed a fine of ₹6,43,73,760 on a construction developer for allegedly digging roads without permission in Sus village, while an earlier ₹95 lakh penalty against the same developer remains unpaid, according to a report by Sakal – Pune.
The unauthorised excavation was identified during construction work on Survey No. 127/1 and 2 Part/J/3 and Survey No. 127/1 and Part A/2 in Sus. The road excavation extended for approximately 1,700 metres, the report said.
The action followed a complaint by Rishikesh Kanwate, an organiser of the Rayat Swabhimani Sanghatana, to the PMC Road Department. The department subsequently verified the complaint and found substance in the allegation, according to the report. PMC Road Department superintendent engineer Ajibhij Ambekar confirmed the penalty.
Pune civic rules require private companies and construction developers seeking to excavate roads for service lines to obtain permission and pay a charge of ₹12,192 per running foot. Excavation is permitted only after the required payment is made. In this case, the department imposed a penalty calculated at three times the applicable charge because the road was allegedly dug without permission.
The latest penalty follows an earlier ₹95 lakh fine imposed on the same developer for unauthorised excavation in the Sus area. That amount has not yet been paid to the municipal corporation, the report said. The organisation has demanded that the PMC recover both penalties promptly.
The matter also highlights a separate road-restoration dispute in Baner. A developer there reportedly obtained permission to lay an electrical line under a scheme implemented through Mahavitaran and received a 50% concession on the excavation charge. The developer deposited 50% of the security amount, which was to be returned after completion of the work.
The permission covered approximately 2,800 metres, but around 1,800 metres of work was completed within the permitted period. After the excavation was closed, the road surface reportedly deteriorated and potholes reappeared because the restoration work was of poor quality. The road falls on the route of the Pune Grand Tour event, and the PMC will therefore have to undertake asphalt work, according to the report.
Because the municipal corporation may incur the restoration cost, it has refused to return the developer’s security deposit. The report said efforts were being made, including through political pressure, to secure the release of the deposit for the remaining work. The PMC’s recovery of the Sus penalties and its decision on the Baner security deposit remain the next recorded steps in the two cases.
