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Clear off illegal vendors: Viman Nagar residents

Pavements in the area have been taken over by encroachments, even as citizens claim PMC is hand-in-glove with the hawkers

With the entire city remaining plagued by encroachment issues for years now, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) antiencroachment department has come under heavy fire.

In a situation that speaks volumes of this department’s inability to resolve the overall problem, residents of Viman Nagar have also now complained of much-used pavements in their area being taken over by illegal hawkers. They have said these walkways don’t even have an inch left for pedestrians, and that the local body has ignored this issue for long, despite complaints being made. Moreover, they feel civic officials are hand in glove with the unauthorised vendors, asserting that their vested interests could be behind such stalls mushrooming around the area.

“The whole curb is occupied by food and other kiosks all over Viman Nagar, including locations in front of societies like Nyati Millennium, Gangapuram Chowk and more, which are the worst hit,” said citizen activist Qaneez Sukhrani, who resides in the area. She added, “Despite complaining in writing to the corporation, there has been no follow-up. Even if PMC takes action sometimes, within an hour after anti-encroachment vans leave, these hawkers are back in business. I think they have some deal with PMC staff. The local body is not following the law. The rules are clear that footpaths are only for pedestrians, not for encroachments.”

Responding to these accusations, Rajesh Bankar, assistant commissioner at the Nagar Road-Wadgaonsheri ward office, said, “We routinely take action against illegal hawkers and food vendors in our area that includes Viman Nagar. I will look into this latest plaint issue and take the necessary action against unauthorised businesses. The problem will be resolved at the earliest.”

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