Pune: Authorities Begin Drive to Remove 4,000 Abandoned Vehicles from City Roads
Pune authorities have launched a major operation to clear approximately 4,000 abandoned vehicles from city roads to ease traffic congestion and improve sanitation. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune Police initiated the drive on Sunday in the Kasba constituency, starting at Dudhbhatti Chowk in Ganesh Peth. On the first day, 139 vehicles were removed.
These abandoned vehicles, many of which are stolen or unclaimed, have long contributed to traffic obstructions, unsanitary conditions, and health risks. Rainwater accumulating in them creates rust and mosquito breeding grounds, leading to potential health hazards.
Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manoj Patil stated that all abandoned vehicles in the area would be removed within 15 days. Owners will first receive a notice, and if left unclaimed, the vehicles will be seized and auctioned after legal formalities.
MLA Hemant Rasane, spearheading the initiative under the “Clean, Beautiful, and Developed Kasba” campaign, emphasized the need to clear these vehicles to improve hygiene and traffic flow. The drive was attended by Additional Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj B.P., Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sandeep Singh Gill, and other local representatives.
PMC officials revealed that 45 abandoned vehicles were already removed last month. To handle seized vehicles, a storage facility has been set up in Baner, with another planned in Kondhwa. The civic body is also planning an auction for defunct municipal vehicles.
Rasane further assured that efforts are being made to streamline legal procedures to reduce the six-month processing time for abandoned vehicles. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to remove unauthorized flex banners from Kasba.
