Pune: Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole on Tuesday said illegal vendors occupying footpaths on FC Road during night hours, especially on weekends, would face action.Shirole said he discussed the issue with Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials.“Vendors who occupy the footpath spaces are not local or regular ones. Their presence increases on weekends around 10 pm and continues late into the night, which is a point of concern. From the point of security and safety, we have recommended that the police and the civic administration take action to ensure that the vendors do not occupy the spaces during night hours,” Shirole said.The MLA said the unauthorised vendors were present despite the civic administration’s drives.“I will ask PMC officials and police for sustained action in the FC Road area so that citizens do not face inconvenience,” he said.Citizens and regular visitors to the area have been demanding continuous action against illegal vendors. Citizens have claimed that the vendors return to footpaths within a few hours after the anti-encroachment drives.“Continuous action against those obstructing walkways could be a solution,” a resident of the area said.Speaking on other issues from the constituency, Shirole said the redevelopment of the MSRTC bus terminus at its original location has moved ahead. The MoU would be signed in the next few days, following which the proposal will be tabled before the state cabinet for final approval.“Signing of the MoU took time because the proposal was undergoing various technical and administrative checks about the lease agreement. MSRTC is in the last stage of finalising the details of the lease agreement,” Shirole said.A plan to redevelop the terminus at its original location is under way. Besides the bus operations, MSRTC is also planning commercial usage of the land by constructing a multi-storied buildingwith a bus terminus on the ground floor and a commercial complex on the upper floors.On the progress of the university chowk flyover project, Shirole said the work was in the last stage.“We will approach chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for the inauguration of the project,” Shirole said.Among various issues he raised at the state assembly’s monsoon session, Shirole said a demand was put forth to set up five cyber police stations in Pune, and declare Pune a defence manufacturing start-up and medical tourism hub.
