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Goodluck Cafe lane joins new list of no-parking zones much to chagrin of business owners
PUNE The decision to make the lane from Goodluck Café to Suvarna Smruti hall a no-parking zone has not pleased café owners and commuters
PUNE The decision to make the lane from Goodluck Café to Suvarna Smruti hall a no-parking zone has not pleased café owners and commuters.
The Sarasbaugh “Khau Galli” to Peshwe Park road has also been made a no-parking zone, though currently, no one is following the rule.
On March 3, the Pune traffic police announced changes to both the streets, to ensure the roads are congestion free.
Only vehicles of essential services, like the fire brigade, police vehicles and ambulances are allowed to park on these roads.
When HT visited Sarasbaugh, vehicles were parked on both sides of the street.
“We heard there will be a no-parking zone, but people park their vehicles on both sides of the lane,” said Pankaj Mishra, a worker at the Vicky Juice Centre.
The owner of Kalpana Bhel, speaking anonymously, said, “Where will people park vehicles. The pay- and-park space allotted has been non-operational. If we don’t allow parking in front of our stalls it will impact our business.”
Shop owners claim traffic jams occur only sometimes.
“I have been working at Meena pav bhaji for the last three years. I have never seen a major traffic congestion occurring due to two-wheeler parking. No shop owners allow four-wheeler parking in the evenings,” said Ramesh Sutar, a stall employee at Sarasbaugh.
Rahul Shrirame, deputy commissioner of police, (traffic), said, “Parking on both the sides at Khau Galli is not allowed. I will send officials to check the situation.”
Commuters, café owners fume
“Such rules were never there for the last 80 years, then why now? We can understand the footpath is needed for pedestrians in front of our café, but there is no problem parking in the side lane . People come and ask us where to park, we tell to find a place in the front, due to which, half of our customers do not return,” said, Hamid, of Goodluck Café, who goes only by his first name.
The owner of Victoria Café, on condition of anonymity, said, “The rule has impacted our business. Our customers are students and if they don’t get parking, they don’t visit our café.”
DCP Shrirame added, “No parking on both the sides near Goodluck Café leading to Suvarna Smruti hall is a must. Lots of congestion was happening on the road and now a free movement of vehicles is possible. The no- parking order will not be revoked.”
