Strict curbs on picnic spots in Pune ahead of Independence Day

PUNE: The Pune rural police have deployed heavy bandobast on the roads leading to popular tourist destinations around the city ahead of the Independence Day weekend.
Anticipating a heavy rush on Saturday and Sunday, police said only those with valid digital passes for travel would be allowed past the check posts set up at the entry points to these places in Bhor, Maval and Mulshi talukas. Those found in violation would be booked under provisions of the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act, police said.

The district collector has already banned entry to these places due to the pandemic.
“Check posts have been set up at the entry points to these destinations and no one will be allowed in without a valid digital pass,” Sandip Patil, superintendent of police (Pune rural), told TOI.
Patil said they have deployed an additional 100 policemen in Lonavla, Mulshi, Bhor and Bhimashankar. “We have been constantly taking action against people found without a digital pass at these spots,” he said.
Navneet Kanwat, deputy superintendent of police (Lonavla division), has directed the officers in-charge of the Lonavla city, Lonavla rural, Vadgaon Maval and Kamshet police stations to carry out nakabandi operations in Maval. “We have put up checkpoints at Khalapur toll plaza, Khandala, Ryewood Park in Lonavla and Varsoli, Karla, Pavananagar, Nane Maval and Andar Maval areas in the rural parts,” an officer from the Lonavla city police said.
“We have deployed extra police personnel,” deputy SP (Bhor) Annasaheb Jadhav said.
Ashok Dhumal, senior inspector of Paud police, said, ““We will take action against those without a valid e-pass.”