Pune: Experts have called for strict conservation safeguards as a listed heritage structure in Aundh, which has been identified as a major traffic bottleneck on the Aundh–Bremen Chowk stretch, is set to be shifted as part of a long-pending road widening project. Now, the administrative handling of the process is under renewed scrutiny.
MLA confirms shifting within 15 days
Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole told TOI that the heritage structure, located jutting into the road near the Aundh police chowky, will be shifted within the next 15 days to ease traffic congestion on the busy route. After conducting an on-site inspection recently with local corporators, as well as officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) building permissions, property and road departments, Shirole emphasized that the structure had for years posed an obstacle to smooth traffic flow, particularly for vehicles travelling from Aundh towards Bremen Chowk and the Rajiv Gandhi bridge corridor.
Historical significance of the structure
The stone masonry structure dates back to the British era and is part of PMC's listed heritage structures. Heritage experts said such structures are associated with the old Khadki cantonment-Governor's bungalow corridor, and represent a colonial architectural typology that has largely disappeared from the city today. Earlier, the Aundh structure served as the office of the special inspector general of police (motor transport). Conservation experts also clarified that while the erstwhile PMC heritage committee had previously permitted dismantling and relocation of such structures, the process can only be carried out under technical supervision and according to prescribed conservation protocols.
Conservation architect yet to be appointed
Jui Tawade, member of the former PMC heritage committee and co-convener of INTACH Pune chapter, said a motion had been passed in the heritage committee around 2018, on the instance of INTACH Pune convener Dr Sharvey Dhongde, stating that such structures "cannot be demolished as they are listed heritage structures, but they can be dismantled and shifted."
"For the shifting, there has to be a conservation architect appointed to provide a plan for the entire process and also to supervise the dismantling and reconstruction," Tawade said. She said members of the former heritage committee conducted a site visit on Friday after receiving communication from PMC officials overseeing the project.
"One of the first things observed was that the appointment of the conservation architect has still not come through. We told civic officials that first, a shed needs to be built where all dismantled material can be securely stored as the material itself is a precious resource," she said.
Conservation guidelines must be followed
Tawade added that numbered stones and architectural elements from the structure would have to be dismantled carefully and reassembled later according to conservation guidelines, as prescribed under Regulation No. 14.5 of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) of 2020 in Maharashtra, which pertains to the identification and listing of heritage structures, sites, and precincts.
Prajakta Divekar, a heritage expert, told TOI, "Such structures need to be carefully documented, dismantled and reconstructed using proper conservation procedures. Since this is a listed heritage structure, all prescribed guidelines and heritage committee recommendations should be followed during the process."
PMC assures step-by-step compliance
A civic official said the structure, located almost in the centre of the road, had become a major bottleneck on the stretch. "The structure will be dismantled carefully, stone by stone, and reconstructed nearby using the same material. Numbering of stones, photography and documentation work has already begun," the official reassured. He confirmed that PMC conducted a site visit with heritage committee members and would follow their guidelines "step by step" during the process.
