Nearly 43,000 sq ft of unauthorised construction was demolished in which 14 civic departments were involved. Besides 100 workers, 50 civic officials were there with 80 policemen to oversee the drive. As for the equipment and vehicles, 7 JCB excavators, 8 dumpers, 5 gas cutters and 10 trucks were used. ‘‘We had issued prior notices to the encroachers,’’ Additional Municipal Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Rajurkar said.

The squad went on to demolish unauthorised portions of a few reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures, illegal dwellings, compound walls, barbed wire fencings, ottas built by shopkeepers, unauthorised eateries, tin sheds, workshops, auto-garages, tea stalls and paan kiosks. From bakery to garage, brass band shop, painters shop, poultry unit and chicken centres, snacks stores, dhaba, auto-spare parts, furniture and cycle repair shops, all were brought down.

Initially, a section of residents near Shankar Maharaj Math and along the B T Kawade Road tried to resist the drive, but gave up on realising the futility of their protest. City engineer Madhav Latkar ensured that the situation did not go out of control. As the staff demolished some dwellings and stalls near Wanavdi nala, legislator Balasaheb Shivarkar insisted that the PMC ought to have gone for a land-acquisition process before taking the action. At certain places, people could be seen demolishing their own structures, which were encroaching upon the road. A row of shops near the Citadel housing complex was demolished. Similarly, unauthorised construction by petrol pump owners near Akashwani, hotels and other commercial establishments were brought down.