PUNE: Hundreds of retail shop owners, medical professionals working in the Baner-Balewadi area and local residents protested on Friday against the recently implemented no-parking rule on Baner Road.
Almost all shops downed shutters around noon. Some educational institutes were also asked to close down. As a precautionary measure police bandobast was deployed in the area.
Traffic on Baner Road came to a standstill for sometime after traders, corporators, shopkeepers, doctors and residents gathered at the Kundan Mangal Karyalaya to protest. They are demanding withdrawal of the no-parking zone order on the five-km stretch from Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (Yashada) to Hotel Sadanand.
“Right from the Pune University circle to the Sadanand Hotel, there is no place for parking now. If someone wants to buy a milk packet of Rs 20, then he/she will have to pay a hefty amount for parking two-wheelers and cars. If the police start putting jammers on vehicles, how are patients supposed to reach hospitals or people buy anything from shops,” said a student, who did not wished to be identified.
RV Choudhary of Kalash Medical added, “If customers do not get space to park their vehicles, they will avoid coming to shops. Then how are we going to earn. We have appealed to authorities to atleast allow parking on one side or parking at the distance of 500 metres.”
People have taken the protest to social media and tagged authorities.
Jayshree Walimbe tweeted, “Make this a paid parking all through Baner road if at all parking is allowed. otherwise, shop owners park their vehicles on the road throughout the day and customers wander for the length of the Baner road searching for parking.”
Sachin Niwangune of Pune District Retail Traders Association said, “We asked for the P1 and P2 parking mechanism instead of no-parking zone because in Pune there is already the rule for odd and even parking then why not implement it here as well. Without taking locals into confidence, they implemented this no-parking policy.”
Corporator Amol Balwadkar, who is also Chairman, Pune City Improvement Committee, said the protests will be intensified in the coming days if the no-parking rule is not revoked. “Vehicles will not be allowed to pass on Baner Road,” he added.
NO PARKING HELPS COMMUTERS: POLICE
Police officials said a section of people are protesting, while others have supported the move as it has increased the carriageway for vehicles.
Speaking to Sakal Times, DCP (Traffic) Pankaj Deshmukh said, “The decision has been taken after much deliberations and taking feedback of all stakeholders. The no-parking zone policy is being implemented for over a month. We are now strictly enforcing the rule and taking action. A delegation came to meet me and we informed them about the problems due to parking and advantages of no-parking zone. Now commuters save time as more area of the road is available for vehicles.”
