he traffic police are cracking the whip on people parking vehicles on the “smart” footpaths across the city to ensure that the facilities remain pedestrian friendly.
The police pledged that the drive would continue because parking of vehicles on the footpaths caused a lot of inconveniences for the pedestrians, who are compelled to walk on the busy roads.
Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Tejaswi Satpute said, “Since November last year, we have been initiating actions under the relevant provisions of the PMC Act against people parking vehicles on the footpaths. We are focusing more on the ‘smart’ footpaths. We want people to comfortably utilize the footpaths and enjoy the public space without any hindrance.”
The officer said some changes could be seen on the footpaths along J M Road and around Parihar Chowk in Aundh. “Lifting of vehicles, installing jammers and action on the basis of photographs of the vehicles is going on. The action we have taken in the last three months alone was never done in the last four-five years,” she said.
As part of the Road Safety Week, 2019, programmes, the Pune traffic police are focusing much on the pedestrians’ safety. “Besides stepping up the heat on the errant motorists and bikers, we have told the PMC to install bollards and repair the gaps on the footpaths to ensure than no vehicle can be parked on the public space,” she said.
Though plans are afoot to stop parking of vehicles on the footpaths, most citizens feel that the measures need to be executed in the sternest ways.
“The other day I was walking along the recently developed footpath along Fergusson College Road when a biker, riding on the public space, showed the audacity to honk as he tried to drive past me. When I questioned the man, he simply ignored me and rode away,” said Anupama Oak, a resident of F C Road.
Oak said on enquiring with the shopkeepers on F C Road, she found that most of them were parking their vehicles on the footpaths. “Many of them said it was difficult for them to cross the road after parking their vehicles on the other side of the thoroughfare. The easiest option for them is to park the vehicles on the footpath itself,” she said.
Mythili Gosavi, a student who frequently visits the Deccan area, said, “The number of vehicles parked on the pavement of JM Road has reduced. But there’s no end to the problem on FC Road and many other roads in the city. The authorities need to prepare a comprehensive plan to stop parking of vehicles on the footpaths.”
She added, “The design of the footpaths, in many cases, is allowing people to part their vehicles on the public space. For instance, the space between the bollards is ample for two-wheelers to pass through on many footpaths. The authorities should plug such holes.”
