Vendors occupying pavements irk residents

TURBHE: Children in Turbhe Store will now have a brand new place to play in. A play centre, equipped for indoor as well as outdoor games, was recently launched in the pre-dominantly slum area by Shikar, a non- governmental organisation (NGO) for social development, in association with Tech Mahindra.

Children can play indoor games such as ludo, chess and carom and will also have access to badminton and cricket kits. The centre will be operational from June 1.

“We are hopeful that this initiative will help children from adjacent slum areas. The centre is located near a municipal school to attract them,” said Priyanka Dhawan, director of the NGO. PANVEL: Residents as well as pedestrians are fed up of vendors encroaching up on pavements in Panvel and Khanda colony during the weekly markets held there on Fridays and Wednesdays respectively.

Pedestrians find it difficult to walk on the road leading to Jai Ambe Mate Trust temple in Panvel’s sector 2, as hawkers encroach up on the pavements during weekly bazaar. “The street vendors are also responsible for law and order problems in the area because of their regular fights goons over extortion matters,” said Khaleel Athavane, a Panvel resident.

The situation at Khanda colony is no different. Roads near the railway crossing have also been completely encroached up on by vendors, who often dump waste on the road, claim residents.

Residents say they have to bear the brunt as CIDCO officials turn a blind eye. “Some miscreants are carry sharp weapons ,” said Athavane.

CIDCO officials said they will look into the issue and take suitable measures.

FILE