On Friday, during a flash drive, as many as 10 traffic policemen placed themselves “strategically” at Nashik Phata chowk, catching two-wheelers riders and fining them for not wearing helmet. Just 100 steps from the spot, however, a number of four-wheelers were parked right on the Pune-Mumbai highway ostensibly for some repair work. The traffic police completely turned a blind eye towards this flagrant violation of norms, which has been hampering the vehicular movement on the highway for years now. It is not just at Nashik Phata that you find footpath and a large chunk of highway occupied in an unauthorised manner. Right from Nigdi to Dapodi — the 13-km highway stretch within the jurisdiction of PCMC — the situation is no different anywhere. Second-hand car dealers, spare parts shops, mechanics and street vendors have in their separate individual capacities taken over the highway — unhindered and unchecked. They have not only taken possession of the footpath, but also a chunk of the highway where footpath was never constructed by the PCMC. “Everyday, the highway grabbers are brazening it out, but the PCMC and the traffic police remain mere spectators,” says civic activist D G Baliga. And everything is happening right under PCMC’s nose. At Chinchwad, right from the junction up to the Highway Towers, the footpath on both sides of the highway is rarely free for pedestrians. From Pimpri Chowk to Chinchwad station, parking of vehicles gets preference over pedestrians. Similar is the case right in front of the PCMC headquarters. But the situation is far worse from Nashik Phata to Sandvik Company near Phugewadi. Here, the second car dealers and mechanics hold complete sway with their vehicles meant for repairs or sale parked right on the highway or the footpath. The CNG filling station located opposite Alfa Lava company has only added to the traffic chaos as vehicles form a serpentine queue right on the highway. What has compounded the matter for smooth movement of vehicular traffic is the demarcation done for BRTS lane. With BRTS on one side and a portion of the highway occupied on the other, the free flow of vehicular movement is getting hampered almost daily. Over six years ago, when the road work was completed, it was believed to be the one-of-its-kind highway stretch dotted with grade separators and flyovers. It was constructed at a cost of Rs 400 crore during the tenure of then municipal commissioner Dilip Band who had carried out a massive demolition drive before making the wide road a reality in the industrial town. In fact, Pimpri-Chinchwad has a one-of-its-kind flyover in Maharashtra that crosses a river, roads and rail tracks. Constructed at a cost of Rs 120 crore with help from the World Bank, the flyover was thrown open to traffic in February. “The PCMC and traffic police seem to have virtually handed over the road to land grabbers,” says another activist Rajendra Verma. PCMC City Engineer Mahavir Kamble said the highway was with the PCMC for maintenance and nobody had the right to take it over. He, however, could not explain as to why PCMC had turned a blind eye towards the highway grabbers. “We will act,” he said. PCMC Commissioner Rajiv Jadhav, too, sort of feigned ignorance about the illegally occupied stretches. “We will take action against them..nobody should disturb the free flow of traffic,” he said. Jadhav too could not explain why his officers had been turning a blind eye to this blatant violation. The response of traffic police was no different. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sarang Awad threw the ball in the PCMC’s court. “The highway is PCMC’s property and they should take action.,” he said. Asked if the traffic police should be mere spectators, he said: “It is the PCMC that has to act in this case.” Residents and activists are, meanwhile, angry. “Is the traffic police only meant to stand at the junctions and catch signal violators? Are they not supposed to ensure free flow of traffic on the highway? Why can’t they take the violators to task? Why can’t they take up the issue with the PCMC,” asks Shridhar Chalkha of the Common People’s Front.