Shital Shinde Demands Probe intoAlleged Builder-Official Nexus in PCMC
Demands probe into illegal constructions and civic corruption
Pimpri : Corporator Vijay alias Shital Shinde has levelled serious corruption allegations against the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) administration, alleging that certain officials are favouring builders at the cost of public interest. He has raised concerns over irregularities in the I2R (Infrastructure to Real Estate) projects, alleged unauthorised constructions at Galaxy Residential and Lokmanya Hospital, and encroachments along the riverbed.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday (October 31), Shinde claimed that 12 civic officials had been caught accepting bribes since the new Municipal Commissioner assumed office. He demanded an impartial inquiry into the allegations and criminal action against officials and builders found guilty.
Shinde alleged that under the I2R project involving the former Garware and Premier company properties, the civic body was deprived of valuable amenity space facing the main road. Instead, a less valuable plot located at the rear corner was allegedly transferred to the corporation through collusion with officials, causing financial losses worth crores of rupees. He demanded an inquiry into all I2R projects and the role of officials from the Town Planning and Building Permission departments.
He also alleged that additional unauthorised construction exceeding 336 sq metres had been carried out at Galaxy Co-operative Housing Society in Chinchwad, resulting in the construction of an unauthorised floor. The alleged irregularity involved a financial transaction of approximately Rs 2.5 crore. He sought a technical audit and criminal cases against the concerned developers, architects and officials.
Raising concerns over the Daffodils project in Chinchwad, Shinde alleged discrepancies in road width, unauthorised construction of eight floors and violations of fire safety norms, including the absence of a separate fire staircase. He questioned how the project obtained fire clearance despite these alleged violations.
Regarding Lokmanya Hospital in Chinchwad and Nigdi, he alleged violations of charitable hospital regulations, denial of free and subsidised beds to poor patients, pending salaries of hospital staff and potentially dangerous construction without a structural audit. He demanded an immediate halt to the alleged unauthorised work.
Shinde also criticised the civic administration over poor waste management, traffic congestion caused by BRT routes, encroachments on smart roads and municipal open spaces, and alleged encroachments along the riverbed. He further demanded that construction activities in the city be suspended one day every week on pollution and public safety grounds.
“Municipal officials appear more interested in collecting money from builders than addressing citizens’ problems. There are discrepancies between approved building plans and actual construction, and unauthorised floors are allegedly being built through a nexus between builders and officials. The Municipal Commissioner must conduct an impartial inquiry and initiate punitive and criminal action against those responsible. Otherwise, we will launch an intense public agitation along with citizens.”
— Shital Shinde, Corporator, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
