Civic body plans to hit back with hefty fines

Commuting on the Pune-Mumbai highway can hardly be termed the “dream drive” as promised, despite a Rs 300-crore project ensuring that Pimpri-Chinchwad area arguably has the only 12-lane stretch on the entire highway, including the Expressway. Perversely, this 13-km stretch is also home to an arterial choke, the major culprit being encroachers.

To combat it, PCMC is setting up 10 parking zones and planning to impose a maximum fine of Rs 2,500 on trucks parked illegally on the highway.

If PCMC administration’s plan is approved in next week’s standing committee meeting, the fine on heavy vehicles will be highest ever imposed in the industrial town. Other than trucks, cars and autorickshaws found parked indiscriminately on any stretch of the highway will also be fined, but the amount will be lower.

Ten years ago, the then municipal commissioner of Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pravinsinh Pardeshi, had imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on heavy vehicles parked at the busy Nashik Phata area. Adopting a tough posture against the "free run" of encroachers on the highway, Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma on Friday said the plan will take effect next week itself.

“Once the plan comes into being, you won’t find vehicles parked anywhere, anytime. Vehicles will have to be parked only in authorised parking zones set up by the PCMC. Those not doing so will have to pay a fine which will be a maximum of Rs 2,500,” he said.

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