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Swargate metro work hit as PMC delays shifting hawkers
These hawkers were to be relocated near Patil Plaza at Mitra Mandal chowk and Maha-Metro officials have already constructed new shops for them
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) had asked the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) two weeks ago to shift hawkers in Swargate to a different location as it is delaying the metro work on the Pimpri-Swargate route. However, the PMC has failed to do so.
The Maha-Metro has to start the construction of the multimodal hub at Swargate. For this purpose, the PMC needs to shift 106 hawkers from the Swargate chowk. Despite allocating new areas for hawkers, the PMC has not been able to relocate them. These hawkers were to be relocated near Patil Plaza at Mitra Mandal chowk and Maha-Metro officials have already constructed new shops for them.
The Maha-Metro is constructing a shaft near Swargate. The tunnel boring machines for the underground metro would enter through this shaft. As the hawkers are located in the same area, it is difficult for Maha-Metro officials to construct the shaft. Not just that, due to the hawkers, the movement of heavy vehicles and machinery is also obstructed.
Madhav Jagtap, head, PMC anti-encroachment department, said, “The hawkers at Swargate are creating an obstruction to the Maha-Metro work. The alternate land for the hawkers is ready and we will shift them next week.”
PMC officials also confirmed that for the construction of the multimodal hub, PMC will have to shift its own building which was constructed for women self-help groups. However, the administration is yet to take a call on this issue.
