Pune: Illegal Hawkers Persist Despite Resident Complaints In Kondhwa, PMC’s Inaction Sparks Conversation on X 

Residents Demand Action as Hawkers Block Road On Main Kondhwa Road in Pune

A video shared by a Pune Pulse reader showcases the pathetic condition of the road meant for pedestrians to walk, vehicles to drive and despite being designated as a No-Hawking Zone, the stretch from Lulla Nagar flyover to tanaji Malusare Chowk (Jyoti Hotel Chowk) in Kondhwa is seen covered with illegal hawkers, much to the dismay of residents and commuters alike. Concerns over pedestrian safety and escalating traffic congestion have prompted calls for urgent action from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Pune.

An X user @DJ_Babb tweeted, “@PMCPune Is helpless here. Almost everyday residents complain about these illegal hawkers.  There is no solution.  All this is a result of pmc blessing to these encroachment.” 

Moreover, residents pointed out the apparent demand-driven nature of hawker presence, citing late-night transactions as evidence as an X user, @zsmphotography commented, “They are Hawking there because customers are buying from there even as late as 10:30 pm. The solution is to provide a location for them to sell their goods, where people can park their vehicles and consequently not be a source of obstruction to traveling people.” 

Amidst mounting frustrations, residents have proposed a pragmatic solution: providing designated locations for hawkers to sell their goods, complete with parking facilities to mitigate obstruction. 

The tweet entails two videos which showcase vegetable hawkers selling their vegetables on one side of the road. The first video showcases vegetable hawkers occupying one side of the road with their carts, effectively blocking nearly half of the thoroughfare. Customers can be seen milling around the carts, further obstructing pedestrian and vehicular movement.

Rasheed Syed, a NIBM road resident said, “They have been setting up business on a space which is a designated No Hawkers Zone. Despite this, PMC has failed to take action. The increasing number of vehicles and these hawkers is adding to the congestion. PMC must take prompt action.”