Security first: Swargate depot to disallow parking inside premises

The next time you go to drop someone off at Swargate bus depot and casually park your bike somewhere on the premises, chances are that it will towed away.u00a0

The authorities at the Maharashtra State Road Trans-port Corporation (MSRTC) and the traffic police will no longer allow parking of vehicles anywhere on the depot premises other than the designated paid-parking lots. This is being done with a view to secure the depot in wake of the recent terror attacks where several government transport facilities have been targeted.u00a0

Depot manager Vijay Kumar Divate said vehicles are parked anywhere inside the depot, which not only disturbs the movement of buses but is also an open invitation for anti-social elements.u00a0"We have also written to the traffic department to assist us in towing away vehicles whenever they are spotted. People can park in the pay-and-park facility right at the entry gate on Satara Road, but not anywhere else," he said.u00a0

The depot has one entrance from Shankarshet Road and the other from Satara Road. At the Satara Road bikes are parked unchecked.u00a0API Kundalik Kaygude from the Swargate Traffic Division said that they has not received any communication from the MSRTC authorities.u00a0

"We, however, regulate traffic around the depot and also take action as and when we receive requests from the MSRTC. We will approach the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for putting up a 'No Parking' sign at important places in the depot the moment we receive any formal intimation," said Kaygude.u00a0

The Swargate bus depot still awaits critical security apparatus like bag scanners and CCTV cameras as the proposal has still been pending with the Mumbai head office. Sources said that manning the security equipment requires additional staff and recruitments are only done from the head office.u00a0