Encroachment Grows Around Pune Railway Station; DRM Yet to Inspect or Act After 10 Months in Office
Reported by Amit Singh
Pune, 3rd November 2025: Illegal hawkers continue to operate freely within and around Pune Railway Station selling cigarettes, gutkha, and other prohibited items. Ten months after DRM Rajesh Kumar Verma assumed charge in January 2025, the growing encroachment near the station’s back gate has raised questions about administrative oversight and inaction.
The area near the back gate ticket counters has become heavily encroached, with unauthorized vendors occupying railway land and footpaths. Several hawkers have reportedly set up makeshift stalls and even stored goods such as water boxes within the premises. Despite multiple anti-encroachment drives by the Pune Division earlier this year, this particular stretch appears untouched prompting suspicions of selective enforcement.
Commuters have questioned why enforcement teams, which have carried out extensive operations elsewhere around the station, have avoided this zone. Some passengers allege that the lack of action indicates possible coordination between a few railway staff and local vendors.
When Punekar News contacted railway officials, they claimed that the hawkers were operating on footpaths under the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). However, photos and videos reviewed by Punekar News clearly show several vendors within railway boundaries, contradicting the officials’ statements.
A woman commuter said, “We feel unsafe passing through this area. People block the passage, smoke, and drink tea openly.” Another passenger added, “Hawkers and auto drivers occupy both the road and footpath. No security staff are visible here.”
A senior citizen commuter shared, “Earlier, there were only a few hawkers. But after the new gate and Metro started, their numbers have multiplied. Both sides of the station are now crowded with vendors.”
Previous Action by Pune Division
The Pune Division has undertaken several drives this year against unauthorized vending:
May 2025: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) registered 706 cases and collected fines worth ₹2,88,670, while the Commercial Department booked 195 cases and recovered ₹39,250.
June 1–10, 2025: RPF filed 282 cases with fines totaling ₹96,020, and the Commercial Department registered 131 cases, recovering ₹38,600.
In just over a month, a total of 1,314 cases were booked. However, despite these large-scale operations, no visible action was taken against hawkers operating near the back gate, an area frequently flagged by commuters for illegal activity.
Passenger Safety and Operational Concerns
- Safety hazards: Unauthorized hawkers selling prohibited items and crowding access routes create security and fire risks for passengers.
- Inconvenience: The encroachments cause congestion, obstruct pedestrian movement, and degrade the station’s appearance.
- Operational issues: The blocked entry and exit points lead to traffic bottlenecks and hinder station management.
The continued presence of illegal hawkers near the back gate of Pune Railway Station has drawn attention to alleged internal negligence and selective enforcement by railway authorities. A statement from DRM Rajesh Kumar Verma on the issue is still awaited.
