Pune residents protest illegal rooftop bars

Locals say bars shut after Porsche crash are back in business, causing unsafe lanes, noise and congestion

- Indu Bhagat

Public anger, which had briefly subsided after the Porsche crash, has resurfaced as residents from Kalyani Nagar, Viman Nagar, Koregaon Park and Wadgaonsheri raised concerns over illegal rooftop bars in Kalyani Nagar.

Following the high-profile Porsche crash earlier this year, authorities had announced sweeping actions such as shutting down illegal rooftops, enforcing zoning rules and promising stringent oversight. Residents across multiple neighbourhoods initially believed their longstanding concerns were finally being addressed. They now say, however, that the crackdown was temporary and cosmetic.