The issue of the increasing number of accidents owing to traffic violations and the growing congestion due to disorganised parking were raised during the Board’s last meeting of 2007, held on December 29. Two prominent hotels along the highway, Poona Gate and Golden Palms, have been given notices regarding the proliferation of parked vehicles and their trade permits cancelled.

Mohan also observed that a couple of tea-stalls near the Cantonment’s octroi post were another joint for high congestion, where truck drivers parked their vehicles, blocking the road. The Brigadier directed that the tea stalls and the other kiosks along the highway be removed and also further added that the PWD and the National Highway authorities be contacted for installing road dividers.

Another proposed development that was put forth by the DCB president who suggested that a pilot project in Kinhai and Chincholi be started to encourage the villagers to use non-conventional sources of energy. “The DCB has been planning to introduce the use of non-conventional sources of energy in the seven villages that fall under its jurisdiction and for that purpose we are going to start the pilot project in the two villages. Besides a gobar gas unit, solar panels and solar water heaters, solar energy will also be used for street lighting in the areas,” said DCB CEO Rajendra Pawar.