Pune: The city’s traffic police have served notices to at least 156 roadside eateries, garages, and florists, besides malls and multiplexes, over the last three weeks, asking them to remove their structure’s portions that are encroaching on roads. “We served notices asking these establishments and individuals to remove their encroachments from the carriageway and not block vehicular movement. If they continue to do so, we will file cases against them under section 285 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” said additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil.
He added, “We have already registered a complaint over one such violation.” According to him, “We have asked the larger establishments to employ wardens to avert traffic jams in front of their facilities. Vehicles entering or leaving these facilities often cause traffic jams.
” Patil explained, “It has been observed that these establishments, especially garages, eateries, and florists, have their business on the footpath or nearby. The garage owners ask their customers to park their vehicles on the roads and then repair them. Motorists also visit roadside eateries and florists and park their vehicles on the roads until they have their meals or buy flowers.
This causes traffic jams, especially during peak hours.” “Gradually, we will also focus on small but important roads in the city. For now, we have warned the offending establishments and individua.