Pune: Congress and BJP Leaders Call for Stricter Nightlife Controls After Deadly Accident
Reported by Sumit Singh & Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 20th May 2024: In a tragic incident in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, a young woman and man lost their lives after a speeding Porsche hit their bike around 3 am on Sunday. The collision has ignited a debate on the city’s burgeoning nightlife culture and its impact on public safety.
Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar and other leaders including Mohan Joshi organised a protest at the Yerwada police station and demanded action against pubs operating till late night.
BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol led a delegation of Mahayuti (Grand Alliance) members to meet with Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, advocating for stricter measures to curb what they describe as a growing threat to the city’s cultural fabric.
“Pune is the home of learning and the cultural capital of the state. But in the last few years, there has been a shock to the culture of Pune city. Nightlife is coming to the fore. Due to this, young people are being subjected to addiction. This is why we have to face such unfortunate events,” Mohol stated.
Mohol suggested several measures to address the issue:
1. Regulation of Nightlife: Implementing strict actions against late-night pubs and bars to discourage nightlife activities in Pune.
2. Control on Music: Limiting vulgar songs played by DJs at parties in pubs.
3. Increased Policing: Enhancing police patrols at night to prevent young people from gathering and causing disturbances in various parts of the city.
4. Operating Hours: Imposing time limits on pub operations, especially in areas such as Koregaon Park, Viman Nagar, and Mundhwa, to control late-night parties
5. Reckless Driving: Enforcing strict actions against reckless driving at night to ensure road safety.
6. Strict Legal Action: Reassessing the charges against the main accused in the Kalyani Nagar accident to impose more stringent measures. Mohol emphasized that lenient, bailable clauses give the impression of undue leniency, which undermines public trust in law enforcement.
7. Women’s Safety: Addressing the safety concerns of women involved in nightlife. Many young women are seen engaging in risky behaviors, including waiting alone for transport late at night. This poses threats to their safety and the safety of other citizens.
8. Illegal Constructions: Monitoring and regulating unauthorized expansions by pubs and bars. Many establishments submit minimal construction plans to the Pune Municipal Corporation for licenses but later expand unlawfully.
9. Late-night Vendors: Controlling the operations of paan stalls, ice cream parlors, and Chinese food carts that remain open late into the night. While some vendors close on time, others operate until midnight, necessitating timely police intervention.
The incident has heightened concerns among Pune residents about the changing cultural dynamics and the safety implications of the city’s nightlife. The delegation, including notable figures such as Ajay Bhosle, Yogesh Tilekar, Ganesh Bidkar, Latif Shaikh, Dr. Siddharth Dhende, Pradeep Deshmukh, Rupali Patil-Thombare, and others, echoed these concerns and urged for immediate and effective action.
Commissioner Amitesh Kumar assured the delegation that the police would take stringent actions to maintain public safety and address the issues raised.
