Complain about two-wheelers and hawkers occupying space

Residents living in different sectors have expressed their displeasure over the rising encroachment on footpaths in their locality. They have also criticized CIDCO for lack of town planning and the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) for not designating specific areas for hawkers which has led to this impasse.

Recently, there was an anti-encroachment drive in Kharghar, Kamothe and Kalamboli. Citizens remained divided on whether it was justified to take action in such a way. While encroachment by hawkers and two-wheelers is a persisting problem, residents feel such drastic measures were uncalled for.

Saleem, a citizen from Kharghar, voiced his opinion on Twitter. He said, “Panvel Municipal Corporation which is not bothered about making proper roads in Kharghar is prompt in evicting hawkers without giving them a dedicated hawkers zone which is the result of wrong town planning by CIDCO.”

Puneet Juneja, a resident of Kharghar said, “When we complain about hawkers almost on a daily basis, no one pays attention. And then, all of a sudden, they show up with a JCB. This is not the right approach to deal with the issue. It needs long-term solutions. There is a hawker menace in Kharghar which is true. But then the recent demolition drive was very inhumane.”

Rajamma Pillai, a resident of Sector 7, Kharghar said, “The hawker menace is not a new problem. Officials need to approach hawkers on a ground level and work towards an amicable solution. Apart from hawkers, even two-wheelers occupy space on the pavement. At Sector 35E, the footpath needs attention from PMC. All footpaths need to be reconstructed and need to stop all encroachment on footpaths. There is daily parking by two-wheelers or four-wheelers that make the lane narrow and then rather than footpaths we have to resort to walking on roads.”