Pune: Footpaths Turn Dumping Grounds As PMC Ignores Encroachment Between Wakdewadi & Khadki (PHOTOS)

Encroachment by illegal hawkers along the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway from Wakdewadi bus stand to Khadki Police Station signal has turned daily commuting into a struggle. Local residents and commuters alleged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is ignoring the menace under the pretext of charging huge money under the table from them.

Illegal hawkers have occupied both the road and footpaths, operating fruit, vegetable and other stalls, leaving behind heaps of garbage. Despite the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently constructing new footpaths, pedestrians are forced to walk on the roads due to garbage, cow dung and abandoned waste piled on the footpath.

To make matters worse, residents pointed out that the transformer and DP (Distribution Point) box covers remain open, posing a potential life threat to passersby, especially children and senior citizens.

Amit Naik, a daily commuter, speaking to The Free Press Journal, said, “This entire stretch is chaotic. The newly built footpath has turned into a dumping zone. On top of that, walking on the road is very risky due to the traffic. The illegal vendors run their business and dump the waste on the footpath openly."

Locals from Khadki Postal Colony have accused the PMC of turning a blind eye to the issue. "It is hard to believe the authorities are not aware of what is happening and about the menace. Either they are completely ignoring the mess, or something fishy is going on."

Vinay More, a local, highlighted that the loudspeakers used by the hawkers to call out rates and attract customers, disturbing the children in their studies. "The children are unable to concentrate on their studies because these vendors use loudspeakers to announce. It is an everyday nuisance."

Meanwhile, speaking to The Free Press Journal, Sandip Kadam, head, Solid Waste Management Department, PMC, said, "Some portion of Khadki comes under the cantonment board, but especially in the mentioned area, we will deploy a team to clean the area and take strict action against the violators."