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Traffic snarls hit busy Pune peth areas
Road repairs, potholes, rains, non-functional traffic signals make commuting difficult in busy peth areas in Pune
Pune: Commuting within afternoon hours in peth areas is turning out to be a chaotic experience for residents due to traffic jams leading to very slow movement for two-wheeler users and pedestrians.
Road repairs, potholed stretches, non-functional signals at some places and continuous spells of rains are making commuting difficult in the core parts of the city.
Once you overcome heavy traffic issue in the core parts of the city, roads connecting Pimpri-Chinchwad — University road, Khadki Bazar road — are also witnessing heavy traffic between 3pm and 5pm due to Covid restrictions with majority of offices closing down in the city during the same time.
Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) traffic Rahul Shrirame did not respond to calls despite many attempts.
A junior official on request of anonymity said, “Since last one week traffic in the core part of the city has increased due to multiple reasons. Due to the reopening of shops, more people are seen on the roads. Road repairs is also one reason as vehicles are not able to move freely and heavy rains have created potholes. Even, many signals are not working.”
Shivpriya Mote, resident of Tapkir galli on Appa Balwant chowk, said, “Residents living in these lanes face trouble even to walk on the main road. Pune Municipal Corporation should find a solution to decongest the roads.”
Parisar, a non-governmental organisation that had presented a city mobility plan to PMC, said Laxmi road, Kumthekar road and a few main roads of peth areas should be made “no-vehicle zones” to ease traffic congestion.
“It is not possible to add new development plans in these old areas of the city. Decongestion of traffic can give breathers to people who often visit these shopping areas. PMC should come out with norms of short and long-term parking under pay and park policy,” said Ranjit Gadgil, programme director, Parisar.
“Due to free parking, many people are keeping their vehicles parked for long hours. Those who shop in these areas and have to park vehicles for five to six hours should park their vehicles in long-term parking while people who come for shopping should allowed parking in short-term parking zones,” said Parisar.
PMC had planned to make Laxmi road walking plaza, however, plan never worked out and it remained on paper. PMC has also not taken any step to implement pay and park policy in the city.
“Pune traffic police will be taking a few steps in coming days to reduce traffic congestion,” said the junior official.
