Pedestrians hail walkway, shopkeepers apprehensive

PUNE: The walkway on Laxmi Road, implemented from Monday on an experimental basis, generated mixed response from pedestrians and shopkeepers. While pedestrians were happy to have a safe and encroachment-free walkway on the busy road, shopkeepers expressed concern about losing customers due to lack of parking space.
The 3.5 metre walkway has been created by banning parking on the left side of the road from Belbaug chowk to Tilak chowk.
Monday being a weekly holiday for many shops, the crowd was much less. However, there were many glitches on the first day of the walkway experiment.
Some shoppers chose to park their vehicles near the barricades put up to demarcate the walkway. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd buses had to stop after the barricades, thus reducing the carriageway, as they could not stop near the bus stops. Some pedestrians were unaware of the new arrangement and ended up walking on the middle of the road.
The traffic police and the Pune Municipal Corporation officials were patrolling on the road throughout the day, guiding the pedestrians and preventing hawkers from setting up their stalls in the barricaded portion.
Police inspector S G Mallesh said, "10 constables were deployed along the road for smooth operation of the new arrangement. A patrol van was also doing the rounds to keep a watch on hawkers."
Ramesh Gandhi, a local resident, said: "As a project, it looks good. But cooperation from pedestrians, regular commuters, customers and shopkeepers is necessary. Hawkers and some shopkeepers use the footpaths and free spaces on the road for their business, which compels pedestrians to walk on the road. On Monday, generally the market is closed. Some more time is needed before pedestrians get used to the new traffic etiquettes."
Sudhir Dongare, another resident, said: "It is a good decision to create a walkway on the road. It is a nice experience to walk safely on the footpaths and on the additional space on the road. People should use the space provided within the barricades, instead of using the road to walk. There are parking lots which can be used effectively. Many visitors to Laxmi Road are unaware of the parking lots. If the municipal corporation officials and the traffic police take efforts to guide them, many will use the parking lots and the problem of parking space can be solved."
Sudam Kanherkar, a bank customer who comes regularly to Laxmi Road, said: "It is a good initiative. Care should be taken to ensure that hawkers and vehicles do not get in the walkway. There should not be parking on the right side of the road as well."
Rohini Yenegure and Reshma Soundankar, residents of Pradhikaran area who visit Laxmi Road regularly, said: "The new arrangement has provided safe and free space for women and children. We can do shopping more freely and enjoy walking as well. Earlier, it was very difficult to carry children with us while shopping. Now, we can walk with them and shop with ease. It should be continued permanently."
The walkway experiments had its critics also.
There was no need of such a lane, said Rajan Chavan, a shopkeeper. "On weekends, there is a large crowd. If the walkway is provided only on the weekends, it will solve the problems of shopkeepers as well as the customers."
Devendra Ombattke, who runs a khadi shop, said: "We have 100-150 customers a day. If the walkway is made permanent, customers will not be able to park on the left side of the road. It will lead to loss of 25% customers for us."
"This decision will affect 10 to 15 per cent of my regular customers, said Vijaykumar Sachdev, who runs a shoe shop. "If the capacity of parking lots is increased, the problem of vehicles parking on the road can be avoided."
Balkrishna Motkar, a professional, said: "I have come here to see the walkway as I regularly visit the road. It is a good initiative. by the civic body and the traffic police
But intrusion of hawkers and some shopkeepers needs to be tackled. Constant vigil by the police and officials is needed for preventing any chaos within the walkway. This parking space on the right side of the road is inadequate considering the number of vehicles that come on the road.It may create congestion on the lanes adjacent to Laxmi Road.
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