Unruly traffic & encroachment choking Tilak Chowk in PCMC

Pune: The Tilak Chowk (Nigdi chowk) in PCMC area is turning out to be a nightmare for pedestrians, as all safety norms are being ignored under the eyes of civic authorities and the traffic department. It is one of the busiest crossroads in the twin town, where chaotic and undisciplined traffic is leading to peak hour traffic snarls.

Citizens complain that hawkers encroachment, haphazard parking, unmanaged pedestrain movement and congregation of a PMPML bus stand, autorickshaw and six-seater rickshaw stands, private bus agents stalls has made the Tilak crossroad chaotic and unsafe for pedestrains. They say that at present Nigdi flyover (Late Madhukar Pawale flyover) across the chowk is proving to be ineffective in easing traffic.

Zonal officer, PCMC, Dnyaneshwar Dhere said that at present hawkers survey within PCMC limit is underway. "We are told not to take action against hawkers until the survey is over. Once the chowk is declared a no hawkers' zone and until present hawkers are not shifted to a new place, we we have to wait," he said. He added that the decision on relocating the hawkers is underway.

A local resident from the area, Ashish Pawar, said that the civic authorities seem to be helpless in resolving the encroachment issue at the Nigdi Chowk over so many years. "Citizens' safety is in danger and the chaos at the chowk is increasing day-by-day. This is all happening in plain view of the authorities," he said.

The area corporator, Ashwini Chikhle speaking on the issue said that Tilak chowk is a vital crossroad connecting Yamunanagar, Pradhikaran with the Nigdi-Bhosari and Talawade IT Park belt.

"We have sent several written complaints about the encroachment problem at the chowk, to PCMC municipal commissioner and anti-encroachment department," she said.

When traffic officer at Nigdi, Satish Shinde was informed about how the six-seater rickshaws queue across the road obstructing the traffic movement, he said that he will soon survey the road stretch and take necessary actions.