Nagpur: A pharmacist, a hospital food contractor and a grocery store owner were among the 4,076 people who approached police stations and had passes given to travel around the city for critical services.
City commissioner BK Upadhyay had said on Monday that after providing legitimate purpose, people who need to move in town for any emergency should approach the nearby police station and collect passes. People lined up at police stations on Tuesday to get passes so they can drive to town for their jobs. In order to get the passes, many government officials, physicians, pharmacists, families of people admitted to hospital approached police station.
The passes had been issued from various police stations after verifying credentials and reasons provided by the resident.
Police officials from Sitabuldi went one step further and installed a booth at Variety Square to issue passes. Many people were lined up to get passes at the stand.
Manoj Chandak, a pharmaceutical store owner, who has a Dhantoli office, said, “I need to go regularly to Gandhibagh to buy pharmaceutical goods. I wanted the pass so I could legally go shopping for products without any hiccups. “Another resident, Pranita Deshpande, had come to the police station with her husband to get a pass as the couple runs a Sitabuldi grocery store. “I needed the transfer, so I could function properly. I had a job at the bank as well, so if I have the pass I can go there without any trouble, “she said.
Dr Abhay Pathak, who had gone to Sitabuldi police station, said he was dismayed by police conduct and language against common citizens. “I got the pass, but the cops yelled at the people, which isn’t right,” he said.
A senior police officer told TOI there had been many people coming to the police station saying they wanted the pass. “Most of them used as the excuse for receiving a pass medical emergency, so we had to issue it,” he said.
