PMC to check malls for encroachments

A report on on encroachments inside shopping malls and complexes has been sought by the Municipal Commissioner of Pune, Mr. Mahesh Pathak. In a press statement on Friday, the building permission and the fire brigade departments were asked to submit a report at the Commissioner’s office by October 30th, after inspecting the malls and multiplexes in the city.

The move was initiated after a citizen’s group demanded action against illegal structural modifications in mallsand other similar complexes across the city, which did not leave any provision for safe escape, in case of any untoward event.

Areas of concern

With the changing lifestyles, Pune has been witnessing a rapid development of commercial complexes, shopping malls and entertainment zones. While most of these malls and complexes have a universal class appeal and seek to offer a one-stop destination for fashion, lifestyle, food and entertainment, they have less open spaces and passages to escape in case of occurrence of an unfortunate event.

Most of the areas in malls and multiplexes that were once vacant, have been converted to receptions and game zones. Some are used for hosting programs like exhibitions and some, for setting up stages. Being centrally or partially air-conditioned, the roofs and terrace areas are covered.
The group, in their demand, mentioned that the concerned authorities should visit the malls and confirm that they are designed and working as per the sanctioned plans. They informed that many malls across the city were vulnerable to fire attacks as they were not built as per the plans sanctioned by the Pune Municipal Corporation.

Drive against illegal encroachments

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday took action on illegal encroachments inside a couple of prominent malls in the city. The anti-encroachment department of the PMC demolished about 8000 sq.ft of construction in the parking space of two malls, which were found to be illegally constructed.

The civic body had sent notices to about six malls in the city, including R-Deccan Malls, Central Mall, The Fun time, Abhiruchi and Phoenix malls. The Additional City Engineer of the Building Permission And Control Department informed that a total of 32 malls house some sort of illegal construction or the other, out of which some have taken corrective action. Illegal constructions were found within the malls’ limits, which included the parking lot, open spaces, side margins etc. He stated that notices were sent to the police department, to file complaints against such structures.