Road to respite

The presence of benches along the entire stretch of the road has not benefitted only Shetty and his patrons. The ones sauntering in the greenery of Pashan-Sus road also vouch for the usefulness of it. Taking a stroll has become a routine affair for Mahesh Pethekar and his wife who live in NCL colony at Pashan-Sus road. 8220;You tend to cover a long way when you take a stroll on this road and when its time to return, you feel like taking some rest before starting off again and that is where these benches come into picture. Earlier my wife and I used to take a walk but that used to be very short because we knew that covering a long stretch again can be a tedious process,8221; shares Pethekar.

Where the residents enjoy the benefits of the benches they also feel that initiatives like these motivate people to walk instead of using automobiles for covering even small distances. Ramesh Pathe, senior citizen and a resident says, 8221; For people of our age such benches are like crutches that help and support us. They also stimulate this healthy habit of walking in us. I now enjoy morning and evening walks because I can stop and take rest whenever I feel like. Earlier when the benches were not there, one could not get a proper place to sit for almost three to four kilometers.8221;

Proving to be happening hangout for the residents, the beautified Pashan-Sus road along with the benches has carved a niche in the locality by becoming an inextricable part of its surroundings. Here8217;s a hope of more roads donning a similar picturesque cum practical avtaar in other parts of the city, even if the CYG urgency and impetus is not there anymore.