PONDA: It has become commonplace to see vendors invade precious vehicle parking spaces in Ponda town, particularly near the market area, while cars and motorbikes jostle for a spot.
Furious Pondaites have now demanded action against the encroachers who gingerly spread out their ware across several parking slots, denying motorists a chance to station their vehicles amid a severe dearth of parking spaces.
Social worker Viraj Sapre said while motorists are either fined or their vehicles clamped for parking along the roadsides, the same degree of action is not forthcoming for illegal vendors despite signboards being erected to clearly designate certain spots as parking zones.
“Who is allowing them (vendors) to squat in parking areas and how is the traffic police not taking action against them?” Sapre said. “If this nonchalance continues, the police should stop fining vehicle owners if they park in areas that are out of bounds for them.”
Sapre recommended a joint inspection by officials of the Ponda municipality and the traffic police of areas along the road leading to the Ponda market.
