The ongoing puncture menace on the old Mumbai-Pune highway has triggered off a firm and angry reaction from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Lonavla Tyre Association.
The ongoing puncture menace on the old Mumbai-Pune highway has triggered off a firm and angry reaction from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Lonavla Tyre Association (PCLTA).
The PCLTA has asked the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to take strong action against the tyre repair shop owners allegedly running illegal shops on the Mumbai-Pune highway (NH-4).
PCLTA president Raghunath Budhgude told DNA, "We have received several complaints from puncture victims. They said they had been charged extra by puncture owners on the highway. These shop keepers must be punished. The police have not taken action because they did have not proof. The association is taking the initiative to curb the menace.''
According to Budhgude, there are nearly 30 puncture shops situated on highway. "These are open till midnight. Earlier, the complaints were received from the highway, but now the complaints have started coming from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area also. We have even tried to find out which hardware shops provide nails to these shop owners, in order to give proof to the police,'' Budhgude said.
Budhgude said many outsiders from Maharashtra had also set up tyre repair shops on the highway. "Earlier, there were only two or three shops on the highway. As the competition increased, the incidents of tyre punctures have also increased,'' Budhgude said.
Budhgude said as their organisation was registered recently, they would urge the PCMC to take action against shop owners who are running their shops without a licence. The latest series of punctures reported Nashik Phata, Kharalwadi, Pimpri on the Mumbai-Pune highway happened during the rush hours.
The PCLTA has appealed to citizens to contact Budhgude on 9822273005 to help the association build up evidence.
Vivek Jamble, a two-wheeler rider told DNA on Monday, "My two-wheeler was punctured on Monday at Kasarwadi.
The nails were lying on road. It is very serious matter. This must be stopped otherwise it will lead to serious accidents. For the shop owners, it may increase their business but they are playing with the people's lives.''
Javar Sheikh, another two-wheeler rider, said, "My bike was punctured on the grade separator at Chinchwad. It was difficult to tackle the situation. I pushed the bike for almost a kilometre. Serious action must taken to stop these frequent incidents.
It is the third time my bike has been punctured on the highway.'' Pimpri police inspector Tukaram Gaud told DNA, "We do not have a single written complaint on this matter and hence no records are available.''Two men push their punctured scooter near Nashik Phata Chowk on Monday
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