Pune : Viman Nagar Residents Seek Action Against Unauthorized Vendors Blocking Pedestrian and Drive Ways

Qaneez Sukhrani, a resident and social activist from Viman Nagar said, “We have been writing to PMC since past 5 years that they must demarcate zones for re-location of licenced vendors which have been given permit to vend as follows.” 

A convenor of Viman Nagar Citizens Forum, Qaneez has a solution to the increasing menace caused by the footpath vendors. 

(i)           Fix *Hawker / Vendor Zone* in every residential locality so that this activity is in one area, away from footpaths which compromise safety of pedestrians

(ii)          Fix *No Hawking Zones* on (a)  footpaths less than 3m in width (b) 50m from all sides of road junctions / chowks (c) for strict implementation taking stern action against violations

(iii)           Fix *Prohibited Hawking Zone* on (a) on roads 100m adjacent to bus stations, depots & railway stations (b) footpaths / streets / lanes of less than 15m width

(iv)           Fix * Hawking Zone* on (a) the footpath which is more than 3 m wide (b) using only one side of the footpath of any particular road / street / lane (c) end of a road / street / lane (d) any road / street/ lane which would be considered dead-end / cul de sac (e) open spaces near nullahs (f) any space where hawkers / vendors and their customers will not obstruct safe & free passage for pedestrians and vehicular traffic (g) places reserved for markets on the DP (h) one hawker pitch should not measure more than 1 x 1m on footpath that is more 3m wide (i) not more than total 10 hawker pitches next to each other (j) area around pitch must be kept clean by hawkers (k) change of location, transfer, renting & selling of licence and change of business must be prohibited (l) licence given must be pasted & clearly visible to the public.

For Viman Nagar, as there is no public space that was marked in DP left for re-location, we had suggested re-location on two pieces of land (which are currently being misused by encroachers, squatters and for free parking by Phoenix customers). These two locations are (1) S.no. 209 (part) which is behind Zensar Biodiversity Udyan and along nullah and (2) so called HCMTR Road which is the road along Phoenix Marketcity Mall.” 

Qaneez further stated, “With the increase in IT companies and corporate offices in a quiet secluded area such as Viman Nagar, we have also seen an increase in cooked food stalls which grab full footpath widths apart from cooking in squalid conditions (see photos). These do not have permissions from PMC and FDA Pune as per replies received through applications submitted through RTI Act. Yet PMC does not take action against them even though they use cylinders on open public spaces. Cooking in the open with gas cylinders is disallowed. Cooked food stalls cannot be included with vendors category who sell fruit & vegetables as per HC order against PIL no.224 of 2014. Despite several on-site visits by the top most officers in PMC and Traffic Police with us in Viman Nagar, they are reluctant to undertake this. On the other hand this situation leads to chaos, failure to provide safe pedestrian passage and traffic jams. In addition to mainly loss of dignity for those who have vending licences.”

PMC must not encourage any vendors, stalls to operate without required permissions and licenses to operate.