Pune: A team of PMC and police officials swung into action to remove street vendors from Shivaji Road after a state minister was caught in the traffic jam on Thursday evening but the drive fizzled out after a group of around 60 hawkers put up a stiff resistance, claiming that the civic body had issued them temporary licences against fees to operate during the duration of the Ganesh festival.Additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil said, “A group of street vendors had gathered near Gadgil statue in front of Shaniwarwada and this caused a traffic jam on Shivaji and Bajirao roads. A state minister, who was on his way to Shrimant Dagduseth Halwai Ganapati pandal, got stuck in the chaos for some time. Police managed to redirect his vehicle and the minister reached the pandal via Sadashiv Peth.”Deputy commissioner of police (Zone I) Krushikesh Rawale called Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials and vendors’ representatives to his office at Faraskhana following which the drive was suspended.Asked if the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had not anticipated situations like traffic snarls before issuing licences to the vendors, the chief of the civic body’s anti-encroachment department Sandip Khalate told TOI, “We have been issuing such licences every year during the festival and never before did we face such a situation. This year, the request to remove the street vendors came from the police.”Khalate said, “PMC has been issuing temporary licences to street vendors after securing a no objection certificate from the traffic department. In the present case, the vendors who produced the traffic NOC were issued temporary licences before the festival commenced on Aug 27.” A police officer said the vendors were told to clear the stretch between Lal Mahal Chowk and Phad Gate to avert traffic jams, stampede-like situations or any sabotage activity during the festival. He said the vendors were told to vacate the area as they were occupying a part of the carriage way, which had become narrow due to Ganesh pandals on the road,causing traffic jams.The PMC squad along with police reached the site between 10am and noon, and a tense situation arose for some time when the vendors refused to clear the road.PMC had collected charges from these vendors at the rate of Rs7 per sq ft per day for a 40ft x 60ft space.
