The standing committee members of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal corporation (PCMC) on Tuesday created an uproar over the issue of the traffic police allegedly taking Rs9,000 per month hafta or protection money for allowing illegal vehicles to ply between Chinchwad station and Mumbai. The illegal tourist vehicles, which cause the traffic congestion, are actually being protected by traffic police, the members said.
As a result, the standing committee decided to hold back a proposal tabled for approval before it, which called for collecting a hefty fine from owners of private vehicles parked in the no parking zone. It was proposed that the revenue coming from the penalty will be shared equally by the traffic police and PCMC. All members opposed the proposal saying it was injustice to citizens.
NCP’s Avinash Tekawade revealed the reason why illegal vehicles at Chinchwad station continued to ply even after charging heavy fines. According to him, the traffic police were collecting Rs9,000 every month from each vehicle plying from Chinchwad station.
“Over 200 private vehicles are plying from Chinchwad station. Which means the traffic police are collecting Rs18 lakh annually. In this, PCMC is not getting anything as these vehicles are not being legally fined,” he said.
NCP corporator Mahesh Landge raised the issue of private buses that are parked near Bhosari flyover. He said, “The buses parked are obstacles to the traffic. These vehicles are not fined while the traffic police target common people. PCMC’s action against small vendors is unfair. To avoid traffic congestion there should be a special zone to park these vehicles.”
NCP’s Chandrakant Valke, Shiv Sena member Asha Shendge also took part in the discussion, and finally the panel decided to hold back the proposal.
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