Protesting against Pune traffic police department’s decision to impose no-parking-zone at the FC road, more than 200 residents and shopkeepers formed a human chain on Sunday, demanding traffic police to reverse their decision.
The traffic department has already declared no-parking-zone on the 600-metre stretch on the right hand side of the road from Good Luck chowk to Step-In restaurant on an experimental basis. They also invited suggestions and objections on it till August 29.
Shopkeepers are opposing the decision and they claim that their business has gone down by 50 per cent since it has been implemented.
Sudhir Ranade (47), owner of an ice-cream shop on FC road said, “My business has gone down by 40 per cent as the customers do not find a place to park their vehicles. Therefore, we are protesting against this decision.”
Amit Saswade (27), a shopkeeper said, “After Laxmi Road, this is the most preferred market place in the city. Most of our customers come on their own vehicles. However, due to no-parking on FC road, there is a footfall in number of customers by 45 per cent. With the festive season just round-the-corner our business will go down the drain.”
Meanwhile, the residents too are facing difficulty in parking their vehicles. Santosh Wagh (40), a resident of FC Road said, “There is no parking place available on the main road and it is even tough to find a place in the adjoining lanes.”
Neelam Mirajkar (33), a resident of Sumati Apartment on FC Road feels that action should be taken against illegal hawkers rather than imposing no-parking-zone in the market and residential area. Mirajkar said, “There is no place for pedestrians to walk as the hawkers have encroached on the footpath. The traffic department took such a decision to make way for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).”
Neelam Jadhav, police inspector (traffic), Deccan division, said that they have taken this step for security reasons. Speaking about the alternative solution, Jadhav said, “The 150-metre stretch from Vaibhav Garments shop to Titan showroom will be used for two-wheeler parking. On Monday, we will give a letter to Pune Municipal Corporation, regarding this.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}