Crackdown against vehicles obstructing traffic in city

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the traffic police have started taking action against vehicles which are creating obstacles to traffic during the night. They have taken action against 116 vehicles from last four days. However, people are criticising PMC and traffic police, claiming they are charging hefty fines without any prior notice. The PMC has fixed a fine of  Rs 5,000 for two-wheelers, Rs 10,000 for three-wheelers and Rs 15,000 for cars, jeeps and buses.

Tejaswi Satpute, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and Madhav Jagtap, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Anti-Encroachment Department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) jointly conducted a press conference on Monday. They informed that action has been taken against 114 vehicles, which have been kept in the river bed near Kakasaheb Gadgil Bridge near Deccan Gymkhana. 
 
Jagtap said, “In October, the State government had issued an order asking us to take action against vehicles creating obstacles for traffic. The police and the civic body are taking joint action from December 6. The PMC is providing cranes, space to place seize vehicles and security personnel. The civic body will collect fine as per general body’s approved proposal.” 
 
Satpute said, “ Till date, we have taken action against 116 vehicles from  Swargate, Samarth, Faraskhana, Vishrambaug, Khadak, Kothrud, Shivajinagar, Dattawadi and Warje traffic zones. The police are providing information to PMC about abandoned and parked vehicles which are creating traffic problems, especially during the night.  We will also take action against PMPML buses if they are creating nuisance for the traffic.”
 
“The traffic department has also urged people to follow parking rules and not to park in such a manner that would cause disturbance for the traffic,” she added.
 
Offenders should have to obtain a form from PMC’s anti-encroachment office at Ghole Road, pay fine and show receipt to the traffic police. After that, the vehicles will be released. 

‘Unethical and hefty fine’ 
This initiative has caused an outrage amongst the citizens whose cars have been towed. One of the sufferers, Girish Somani, said,”We live in the Hatti Ganpati area and park our vehicles just around the corners as there is no parking near our houses. On Sunday night, the traffic police towed our vehicles and brought them to the river bank. Upon asking the police about the same, they directed us towards the municipal corporation. We have been asked to pay 5,000 as a penalty for our bike. This is a very hefty sum to pay at such a short notice.” 

Another sufferer Milind Dahale, whose car has been towed said, “I had parked my car as usual on Tilak Road when the police towed my car and in the process, my car was damaged. After damaging my vehicle, they are asking me to pay a fine of 15,000 which, I feel, is unethical.”