Rush of people going for shopping at popular destinations in the city during festival season has become a major challenge for the traffic police. Areas like Sitabuldi, Sadar, Mahal and Itwari attract thousands of visitors every day. As a result, the traffic comes to a standstill.
However, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Sahebrao Patil has formed special squads to ease congestions in these areas during Diwali. He said that these squads will ensure that the vehicles are not parked wrongly and added that violators of traffic rules would be penalised.
Pedestrians are the worst affected as they struggle to make their way through vehicles and hawkers. At Itwari, rows of handcarts or cycle-rickshaws parked outside the shops blocking vehicular movement is a regular feature. Motorists often complain that traffic police personnel do not even try to clear the road.
Residents in Itwari alleged that improvement in traffic situation and availability of space for pedestrians and parking have become impossible. They said the widened road in the area has not contributed to decongestion as traffic gets choked.
Streets in Sitabuldi have turned into free zones for hawkers. Despite restrictions, hawkers are seen doing business by flouting rules. Small lanes like Modi number 1, 2, 3 and Hanuman Galli are no better. "Crossing even a half-a-km stretch from Variety Square to Rani Jhansi Square takes 10 minutes. Footpaths have virtually 'disappeared' due to encroachment by hawkers. Pedestrians have to tread dangerously on road," complained homemaker Shweta Suryawanshi.
Mahal road is one of the major casualties. Nilima Baheti, a resident of Mahal, said "Someone who had come for shopping had parked vehicle inside our residential complex. We could not take our four-wheeler out. When the owner returned, he was not even apologetic."
However, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Sahebrao Patil has formed special squads to ease congestions in these areas during Diwali. He said that these squads will ensure that the vehicles are not parked wrongly and added that violators of traffic rules would be penalised.
Pedestrians are the worst affected as they struggle to make their way through vehicles and hawkers. At Itwari, rows of handcarts or cycle-rickshaws parked outside the shops blocking vehicular movement is a regular feature. Motorists often complain that traffic police personnel do not even try to clear the road.
Residents in Itwari alleged that improvement in traffic situation and availability of space for pedestrians and parking have become impossible. They said the widened road in the area has not contributed to decongestion as traffic gets choked.
Streets in Sitabuldi have turned into free zones for hawkers. Despite restrictions, hawkers are seen doing business by flouting rules. Small lanes like Modi number 1, 2, 3 and Hanuman Galli are no better. "Crossing even a half-a-km stretch from Variety Square to Rani Jhansi Square takes 10 minutes. Footpaths have virtually 'disappeared' due to encroachment by hawkers. Pedestrians have to tread dangerously on road," complained homemaker Shweta Suryawanshi.
Mahal road is one of the major casualties. Nilima Baheti, a resident of Mahal, said "Someone who had come for shopping had parked vehicle inside our residential complex. We could not take our four-wheeler out. When the owner returned, he was not even apologetic."
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