Premium

Pune Municipal Corporation to request district collector to declare Dry Day on Shiv Jayanti

Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram says the PMC will make the Dry Day request in response to demands made by social organisations on account of Shiv Jayanti.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 20, 2026 08:34 PM IST

On Shivaji Jayanti, various social organisations hold processions in Pune. (Express File Photo)

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will request the district collector to declare a Dry Day, prohibiting the sale or serving of liquor in the city, on February 19 on account of Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Maratha king Shivaji, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said on Tuesday.
“We will have written communication with the Pune collector for declaring a Dry Day on February 19 for the birth anniversary of the Maratha king,” Ram said in response to demands made by social organisations.
On the occasion, various social organisations hold processions to promote the values of the Maratha king.
The district administration, state government, and Union government have the powers to declare a Dry Day. It is declared during national holidays and religious festivals to respect cultural sensitivities, as well as during elections to maintain public order.
Ram asked representatives of social organisations in the city to submit suggestions about celebrating Shivaji’s birth anniversary in writing. Social organisations have urged the PMC to provide a dedicated path for Shiv Jayanti processions and make necessary arrangements for the convenience of residents.
“The PMC will request the Pune traffic police to provide an alternative road for traffic movement to avoid chaos on the path of the processions. Also, the civic body will provide traffic wardens along the procession route,” said the municipal commissioner.
The PMC will also take up cleanliness and beautification initiatives across the city on the occasion, Ram said. “Overhead cables that might obstruct the procession will be removed. Moreover, a team of civic officers will visit various locations in the city to resolve issues,” he said.
All Shivaji statues in public places will be cleaned ahead of the festival and will be garlanded on February 19, Ram added.
The municipal commissioner said the PMC would get the Lal Mahal, where the Maratha king spent his childhood and was groomed, cleaned, and decorated. “The Lal Mahal will be kept open for more hours than every day so that citizens can visit it as per their convenience,” he said, adding that schools run by the civic body would hold painting, elocution, drama, and fancy dress competitions for students on the theme of Shivaji’s life.
Social organisations have also demanded that the PMC provide drinking water, mobile toilets, and mobile clinics on the procession route on February 19. They also want a single-window system to apply for permission to hold Shiv Jayanti processions.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
Shiv Jayanti

Loading Taboola...