Pune, Maharashtra: Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) finds itself in the crosshairs of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) after unauthorized digging on the road from Abhimanshri society to Pashan. The construction giant now faces a substantial fine of ₹8,77,824 and the suspension of a junior engineer from the road department. In response to these incidents, the PMC is set to enable citizens to verify permissions for road digging online.
The unauthorized digging was discovered by PMC’s Additional Commissioner, Vikas Dhakne, during his visit to Pashan. Despite recently undergoing repairs and re-tarring following a water pipeline project, the road faced disruption due to L&T’s unapproved excavation activities. The concerned engineer initially justified the work as a necessity for the pipeline.
Investigations, however, revealed that L&T had indeed obtained permission from the road department in September under the water supply project. This permission, however, came with the condition of informing key personnel before initiating any road excavation between October 1 and October 31, a condition that L&T failed to adhere to.
In response to the violation, the PMC’s road department imposed a hefty fine of ₹8,77,824 on L&T for the unauthorized digging. The junior engineer involved in the case has also been suspended as a consequence.
The Municipal Corporation is taking a stricter stance on unauthorized road digging, extending its scrutiny to private individuals as well. A recent case involving a private individual resulted in a fine ranging from ₹4 to ₹5 lakhs. To enhance transparency and accountability, PMC’s administration announced that information about licenses granted for road excavation will soon be available on the municipal website. This move aims to empower citizens to verify whether proper authorization has been granted for road digging, facilitating immediate monitoring of unauthorized activities.
