The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) carried out an overnight demolition operation in the Chikhali-Kudalwadi area, removing four unauthorised religious structures amid tight security and heightened tension. The action, which concluded on Monday, targeted two temples and two mosques that had no pending legal challenges or protective orders from any authority.
Background of the Demolition Drive
The demolition followed notices issued more than a year ago to 31 unauthorised religious structures in the locality. These notices were served after one of the city's largest anti-encroachment drives, during which over 4,000 illegal industrial units and scrap godowns spread across nearly 900 acres were demolished. At that time, religious structures and ATM kiosks had been exempted.
According to civic officials, the four structures demolished covered over 4,300 square feet and were part of an ongoing drive targeting illegal constructions in Kudalwadi and nearby areas. A senior PCMC official stated, "Several of the remaining structures have approached bodies like the minority commission, the urban development department, and courts for relief. Action will be taken once those matters are resolved."
Timing and Security Measures
Officials said the drive was deliberately carried out after midnight to avoid potential resistance, considering residents had staged protest marches last year when the notices were first issued. "The demolition began around 1 a.m. and continued till sunrise to minimise obstruction and ensure law and order," another civic official explained.
The operation saw the deployment of around 1,200 police personnel, along with 218 Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) jawans. Officials confirmed that the drive concluded without any untoward incidents.
Ongoing Crackdown on Illegal Constructions
Additional municipal commissioner Kuldeep Jangam said the civic body would continue its crackdown on illegal constructions across the city, regardless of their nature. "Unauthorised commercial units have re-emerged in Kudalwadi after last year's drive. These will also face action too. We will act against any illegal construction in the city," he stated.
BJP MLA Mahesh Landge, who had previously raised concerns about alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators in Kudalwadi, supported the demolition. In a post on X, he said action against unauthorised religious structures sheltering "anti-national tendencies" was necessary. The MLA also expressed regret over damage to some Hindu religious sites, adding that efforts would be made to rebuild them at authorised locations in accordance with regulations.
