The stall holders, led by Shiv Sena MLA Gajanan Babar, demanded that PMC's octroi post should be shifted to some other place since it was causing inconvenience to the citizens. Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kapoor, however, has strongly refused any idea of shifting the octroi post saying that land of octroi post had been leased out to PMC by College of Military Engineering (CME).

Several stall holders, who were running their business from the premises of octroi post, gathered at Phugewadi since morning. Tension prevailed in the area as police force was deployed there as precautionary measure. The anti-encroachment squad had removed their stalls thrice in the recent past and also lodged complaint with the police for obstructing their work.

The stall holders blocked the road around 3 pm for an hour. The agitation resulted into long queues from both the ends of Pune-Mumbai national highway. Traffic was restored only after police picked up the agitationists. Babar demanded that the octroi post should be shifted to its earlier place since the site had turned into a death trap because of vehicles. Babar said the road widening work could also not be initiated because of octroi post.Kapoor, however, made it clear that the question of shifting of octroi post did not arise since it was situated on Defence Ministry land. He said shifting of octroi post at its earlier site would further aggravate traffic condition on the stretch.

Kapoor said he would talk to police officials since no action had been taken against the persons who had attacked civic employees in three separate incidents.

It may be recalled that municipal corporation had removed 15 illegal stalls, located in the premises of octroi post for thrice last week. The action proved fruitless since stall holders started running their business even after the demolition.