Pune News :Â Encroachments, illegal vendors on footpaths irk Viman Nagar residents
Pune News :Â Encroachments, illegal vendors on footpaths irk Viman Nagar residents
By: Pune Pulse
November 25, 2023
Pune: The footpath spaces and public spaces illegally occupied by vendors, food stalls and more are making lives difficult for the residents of Viman Nagar.
As per further information shared by Qaneez Sukhrani, Pune Citizen Activist, the issue is an old one. But no permanent action has been taken against this. There are multiple issues viz. food stalls, vendors & hawkers as PMC is allowing them a free hand to settle down and do business anywhere and everywhere. When the citizens file complaints, PMC has the audacity to say that the public wants them.
The public is not against them doing business but against them being allowed to do business in public spaces as if this belongs to them. But the bottom line is that hafta is being taken and distributed for mutual benefit. None of the complaints made in writing have borne any results as there is a lot of mutual benefit involved and PMC is aware but does not want to do anything. The citizens want a permanent solution, not just sporadic drives, Sukhrani added.
Sukhrani further shares that the following are some common Viman Nagar areas where the encroachment & footpath stalls issue is prevalent:
· Food stalls after 7 pm on the entire footpath at Khalsa Dairy & its opposite side
This is a shocking reality that both side footpaths at Khalsa Dairy become Khau Galli after 7 pm to cater to several people in Viman Nagar. Especially, on the evenings before a holiday.
· Food stalls on full footpath at Biodiversity Udyan
This is another shocking issue on Aug 30, 2023, stalls were removed from the Biodiversity Udyan footpath (while an anti-encroachment drive was taking place on Phoenix Mall Road). The moment PMC moved out of Viman Nagar after doing the drive at Phoenix Mall Road, the food stalls were put back. There are about 10 to 12 food stalls occupying full footpath width and doing roaring business.
· Thursday market near a residential society in Viman Nagar
This Thursday market contains hawkers on the roadside near Rose Society, Viman Nagar. PMC cannot ignore hawkers occupying public spaces.
· Vendors & food stalls at Phoenix Mall Road
A part of the road behind Phoenix Mall can be officially turned into a vendor zone. If the site is constructed for vendors by demarcating space for stalls, putting toilets, street lights etc, it will become an ideal vendor zone and example for the rest of Pune. However, no proactive action has been taken by the PMC.
Pune Pulse tried to contact the relevant PMC officials but couldn’t connect till the report was filed.
