Overgrowth on median puts commuters at risk

PUNE: Beautification of medians, though pleasing to the eye, can also be a traffic hazard.
Recently, residents of Kothrud found themselves grappling with this issue. They have complained of excessive overgrowth on the median along the Shrikant Thakare path near Sahajanand bus stop in Kothrud which, they said, obstructs the view of motorists as well as pedestrians crossing the road through median breaks.
Pre-monsoon work, which should include trimming of shrubbery along beautified medians, has not been carried out by the civic body, they said.
"The plantation on the median of Shrikant Thakare path is risky for pedestrians who cross the road through the median breaks as motorists can't see them because of the overgrowth. An elderly citizen was hit by a motorist a few days ago," Vishwas Adhikar, a local resident, said.
Another resident said that they have complained repeatedly to the ward officers. "The shrubbery on the median needs to be trimmed immediately, but ward officers have turned a deaf ear to the complaints of the residents." Apart from this, the residents have also raised concerns about vegetable vendors setting up shop on the footpath, hampering traffic flow at the Sahajanand chowk.
"The road that goes to Mahatma Society is narrow. There are shops and banks located along the road and it becomes very crowded in the mornings and evenings when people park their vehicles to buy vegetables. The vegetable vendors' carts stretch close to the road and commuters find it difficult to ply during rush hours," said Vidha Mali.
Mali also pointed out that a vegetable vendor's tempo is parked on the footpath right at the sharp curve adjacent to the Garma Garam Hotel.
"People park their two-wheelers near the cart to buy vegetables, hampering the smooth flow of the traffic. Both these vegetable vendors ? one located on the road that goes to Mahatma Society from Kumar Parisar and another, who parks his tempo right on Shrikant Thakare Road ? need to be relocated to spots where their presence would not cause any traffic jams and also not affect their daily wages," Mali added.
Vikas Mathi, who lives in Mahatma Society, accused the vegetable vendors of encroaching on the footpaths of Shrikant Thakare path and Mahatam Society Road. "Morning walkers who take this route have to be constantly alert so as to avoid vehicles zooming by. It gets particularly difficult for senior citizens. We have complained to the Pune Municipal Corporation's ward officers, but no action has been taken so far," Mathi said.
The residents said the vegetable vendors blatantly ignore the rules. "There was a board installed at the curve of the Shrikant Thakare path that prohibited parking of vehicles on the footpath. But the vendors and other encroachers later removed the board to avoid any hassles from local residents," a resident of Shantivan Society said.
When contacted, Avinash Sapkal, PMC's Warje-Kothrud ward officer, said, "I will ask garden department to trim the excessive plantation on the median. As far as vegetable vendors are concerned, there is an ongoing survey to map their presence, hence action against the encroaching vendors has been relaxed. We are going to categorise the hawkers and vendors. Those occupying footpaths will be asked to clear out in the next eight days."
Despite repeated attempts, local corporators Pushpa Kanaujia and Shankar Kemse could not be contacted for their reactions.
The issue:
Overgrown shrubbery along the median of the Shrikant Thakare path, near Sahajanand Bus stop in Kothrud, has become a hazard for both commuters and pedestrians
While the shrubbery obstructs the view of the motorists, those crossing the road through median breaks are also unable to see the vehicles coming at them
To make matters worse, vegetable vendors encroaching on footpaths cause a hindrance to the smooth flow of traffic during peak hours
Who beautifies the medians?
The civic administration had planned to carry out road various projects for beautification of the roads and traffic islands in different parts of the city on built operate and transfer basis. Some development projects proposed under Kothrud / Warje-Karvenagar ward office.
Karve Statute to Kakade city, Warje: Road divider
Shivaji Statute to Ashish Garden : Road divider
Ashish Garden to Mahatma Society : Road divider
Kelewadi near Paud road: Traffic island
Shashtrinagar near Paud road : Traffic island
Mhatre bridge near Karve Nagar : Traffic island