Ganeshotsav Traffic Woes In Pune: PMC Cracks Down On Roaming Animals
Pune, 20th September 2023: As the city gears up for the festive fervor of Ganeshotsav, motorists navigating the bustling streets are facing a unique challenge: stray animals. Traffic congestion during the Ganeshotsav period is a common issue, but the added hindrance of roaming animals has prompted the municipal administration to take action.
In a bid to maintain a disturbance-free festival, the authorities have decided to ‘seize’ stray animals and impose punitive measures against their owners, citing the prevention of public nuisance as the primary objective.
In recent times, instances of animals abandoned on city streets have surged. Locations such as Lakshmi Road, Kumthekar Road, Senapati Bapat Road, Lakdi Bridge, and the riverbed have witnessed a frequent presence of wandering animals. These animals traverse public thoroughfares, hover near bus stops, and linger around road intersections.
With Ganeshotsav drawing a multitude of visitors from the suburbs and neighboring cities to witness the grand spectacle of public Ganesha mandals in Pune, traffic congestion becomes a prevalent issue during the festival. This surge in traffic, combined with the presence of loose animals, raises concerns of potential accidents. In response, the Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment department has resolved to take action against various types of animals found loitering on the roads and has appealed to the public to report such incidents.
Under the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) holds the authority to implement this action, which includes punitive measures against animal owners. Dedicated teams have been assembled within the anti-encroachment department to identify and confiscate animals found wandering on the roads. These animals will remain in custody until the conclusion of Ganeshotsav, and substantial fines will be imposed on their owners, informed Madhav Jagtap, the head of the anti-encroachment department.
Stray animals not only disrupt vehicular traffic but also pose a nuisance to pedestrians by occupying footpaths. To address this concern, the anti-encroachment department has urged pedestrians to contact the municipal administration at the designated number 9689931957.
Join Punekar News Whatsapp Group, Telegram, Instagram And Twitter For Regular Update about Pune City And Pimpri-Chinchwad
