Hawking zones likely on bicycle tracks, on-street parking space

July 23, 2014

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Prasad Kulkarni,TNN

PUNE: Roadside parking, even unused cycle tracks in the city, can soon be the place for hawkers to do business. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is contemplating such a move to rehabilitate vendors.

“There are 20,000 hawkers who have to be settled. The civic administration does not have enough space to rehabilitate them, so various options such as cycle tracks have been considered. The officials are also looking at an option to accommodate hawkers in some parking places,” said sources at PMC’s anti- encroachment department.

The sources said there are some roads where people park their vehicles, unofficially. They will be converted into parking and some section will be given to hawkers. In some cases, the existing roadside parking space will also be used.

The civic administration has made markings on some cycle tracks which some activists and political leaders have opposed. “The administration is considering the use of cycle track space which has met with little opposition. The hawkers will be allowed to operate from the cycle tracks provided they are not a nuisance to traffic or pedestrians,” a senior PMC official said.

The PMC has developed a network of cycle tracks and footpaths from SNDT College to Prabhat Road, Fergusson College to Sant Dnyaneshwar Paduka mandir and Model Colony to University Road using JNNURM funds.

Additional commissioner Rajendra Jagtap said the civic administration has not taken any final call on these moves. “There are some options which we will consider on a pilot basis. A committee designated for this purpose will decide. A meeting of all the stake holders will be conducted before a final decision,” he told TOI.

As per the Supreme Court order on September 13, 2013, and directives of the state government’s urban development department on October 21, 2013, the civic administration has to allow all vendors to do their business. Accordingly, the PMC has planned hawkers’ zones across the city. The PMC administration had also decided to do a biometric census and provide all hawkers with UID numbers.

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Cycling, Municipal Corporation, Parking

One comment on “Hawking zones likely on bicycle tracks, on-street parking space” Post your comment

Varadaraj Gidugu on August 3rd, 2014 12:27 am

Efforts should be made to save the infrastructure facilities created for pedestrians (Footpaths) and cyclists (Cycle Tracks) especially from the funds specifically conceptualized for such developmental projects. Such developments are few and far apart in time in the days when more emphasis is given towards planning of facilities for motorized transport. Thus, in fact efforts should be made to expand the NMT (Non-Motorized Transport) network using the space being unofficially / illegally used for parking purposes. It needs to be recognized that creating NMT facilities is a necessary condition for its usage but not a sufficient condition. That is continuous education of all road users and enforcement, not just a week / fortnight safety programs annually, should follow till the use of new infrastructure is effectively used and becomes a habit. Additionally, in a simultaneous exercise adequate and safe parking facilities for cycles need be created at institutional / commercial centers and gradually reduce but not eliminate the parking spaces for cars.