India, May 24 -- Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) commissioner Yogesh Mhase on Thursday announced that criminal charges will be filed against individuals or groups obstructing the ongoing drive to remove illegal hoardings.

An ongoing survey by PMRDA has revealed a staggering 967 unauthorised hoardings within its jurisdiction. So far, the anti-encroachment department has removed around 90 of these in the last five months.

"Take swift action, particularly against hoardings that obstruct traffic or pose a threat to public safety," said Mhase during a meeting with civic officials.

He instructed that a more aggressive crackdown begin on May 26.

"If any incident of injury, fatality, or property damage occurs due to una...