NAGPUR: Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Monday ordered NMC to remove encroachments from several places around Sitabuldi to create space for parking. These include chowpatty near Yeshwant Stadium, second hand book sellers besides the deputy director of education office, cricket gear sellers in front of Gorakshan Sabha and shops located illegally on stretch starting from Panchsheel square to Lokmat square.

A division bench of justices Sharad Bobde and Mridula Bhatkar asked civic officials to clear these areas within a week and provide alternative space to the hawkers/vendors who will be dislocated. The directive came after a court-appointed panel headed by DCP (Traffic) Sahebrao Patil submitted its report. The panel was asked to look for parking places near the Shahid Gowari flyover stretching from Rahate Colony square to Morris College T-Point. The court also allowed the intervenors -- Consumer Services and Research Association – to add collector, MSRTC and NHAI as respondents and issued notices to them.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by social activist Madan Thool against parking of vehicle beneath flyovers in the city for security reasons. PS Tidke represented Thool while Anand Parchure held brief for the intervenors.

The panel pointed out that many areas could be used for parking if encroachments on them were removed. This includes 3,038 sq ft adjacent to deputy director of education's office and area opposite Gorakshan sabha near Rahate colony square.

The panel observed that there was space for two-wheeler parking below the flyover from Jhansi Rani to Panchasheel square. The area is under NHAI and its DGM Naresh Wadetwar had already declared the organisation had no objection to parking under the structure. The panel further stated that space between footpath of Wardha road and the boundary of commercial shops could be used for parking if encroachment by shops, hospitals and showrooms were removed. The team observed the area was close to the market.