Pune Municipal Corporation Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Tackle Traffic Congestion on 32 Key Roads
In a significant move to address the escalating traffic woes in Pune, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram announced on Tuesday that the civic administration is intensifying efforts to decongest 32 crucial roads across the city. This initiative aims to keep carriageways free of obstacles, responding to a crescendo of complaints from commuters about frequent traffic jams and delays.
Multi-Agency Coordination and Priority Actions
Commissioner Ram assured stakeholders that a detailed plan is being formulated to prioritize road resurfacing, continuous repairs of utility chambers, and the completion of missing road links. He emphasized the importance of multi-agency coordination to ensure these measures are executed efficiently. The announcement was made during a workshop titled 'Improving Urban Mobility in Pune,' organized by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir.
The event saw participation from a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the civic body, traffic police, Maha Metro, and concerned citizens. Ram highlighted that PMC is working on a dual approach with both short-term and long-term solutions to enhance overall mobility in the city.
Short-Term and Long-Term Mobility Solutions
Short-term measures include immediate actions such as shifting electricity poles and power supply feeders that obstruct traffic flow, ensuring even road surfaces, and eliminating potholes on carriageways. Ram stressed that these steps are crucial for providing quick relief to commuters.
Long-term projects involve more extensive infrastructure developments, such as constructing flyovers and extending the Metro network to improve connectivity and reduce congestion. The commissioner also mentioned that the upcoming ring road on the outskirts will play a key role in restricting the entry of larger vehicles into the city, thereby alleviating inner-city traffic pressure.
Collaborative Efforts and Citizen Participation
Ram underscored the need for coordinated efforts with the city traffic police to enhance commuter flow. He stated, "We will also work out solutions on feeder poles and distribution points along with MSEDCL, and road-digging plans with BSNL. Citizens' participation and support will be vital in executing these initiatives." He added that PMC plans to execute these efforts in mission mode, ensuring timely completion and effectiveness.
Additionally, the administration has prioritized other urban issues, including improvements in streetlight provision, handling construction and demolition waste, removal of illegal hoardings, and tackling the proliferation of illegal hawkers on city streets.
Political and Administrative Perspectives
City Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, who was also present at the event, called for fixing responsibility within each department to address the lack of planning and execution that has led to major traffic chaos. She remarked, "Bigger projects will take time for execution, but the administration cannot wait for these to finish; immediate solutions will have to be worked out." Nagpure urged PMC to extend its efforts to merged areas to improve the overall road network.
Other notable attendees included leader of the house in PMC Ganesh Bidkar, leader of opposition Nilesh Nikam, and deputy mayor Parshuram Wadekar. Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil addressed the gathering, noting that traffic speed has improved in the city due to focused efforts. He explained, "Pune's vehicle population is significant. Hence, low-cost traffic management techniques are being implemented with the help of the latest technologies such as the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS). Regular congestion monitoring is underway." Patil also highlighted that the low share of public transport has contributed to high private vehicle usage, exacerbating congestion issues.
This comprehensive approach by PMC reflects a concerted effort to transform Pune's urban mobility landscape, balancing immediate fixes with sustainable long-term strategies to ensure smoother and safer commutes for all residents.
