Pune : Hawker menace continues on MG Road

The Pune Cantonment Board’s nuisance detection squad had planned to carry out its routine inspection of M G Road. However, this information somehow reached the unauthorized hawkers in the area. Surprisingly, by evening, the usually crowded footpaths were miraculously cleared.

 Yet, as soon as the squad completed their inspection, the hawkers returned in full force. By 8.30 pm, everything was back to normal, and the hawkers resumed their usual business activities. According to the provided information, the hawkers are constantly watchful of the anti-encroachment drive, even before it commences. They vanish temporarily and reappear immediately after the drive concludes.

In a letter addressed to the Pune police commissioner, the issue of illegal encroachments on the road was highlighted, particularly those situated behind Hotel Aurora Towers. It pointed out the contrasting treatment between vehicle owners, whose vehicles are promptly towed away by the traffic department for minor parking violations, and the hawkers who have set up businesses in the same area without facing any consequences.

Cawas Pundole, told Pune Pulse that the letter has been sent to the civic authorities as well as police but there has been no action yet. 

On December 1, the Pune Camp Merchants Association (PCMA) members sent another letter to both the Pune Cantonment Board and the police. A letter by the local shopkeepers association, emphasized that the problems have escalated to the point of suffocating and endangering them. 

The business community pointed out that the Fashion Street shopping area was established several decades ago as a permanent space for street vendors, while M G Road and numerous other areas in the cantonment are designated as “no hawking” zones.

Despite this, the same street vendors have been illicitly setting up “second shops” on various roads, lanes, and bylanes of Pune Camp.