Over 100 pedestrians die on busy city roads every year due to the absence of pedestrian signals and indisciplined traffic movement. The Save Pune Traffic Movement (SPTM) has undertaken great efforts to get many pedestrian signals repaired by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
The SPTM, an NGO working for improvement in transportation, got pedestrian signals repaired at as many as 11 chowks in Kothrud, Karve Road and Paud Road areas.
The pedestrian signals were repaired at the Konkan Express Chowk, Karve statue, Mrityunjayeshwar temple, Hutatma Rajguru Chowk, Paud Phata, Nal Stop, Kalewadi, Ogale Chowk, Anand Nagar, Paramhans Nagar and Kothrud Depot.
A functionary of SPTM, said that every year, around 400 commuters including over 100 pedestrians lose their lives in road accidents.
The functioning of the pedestrian signals could have saved many lives. Unfortunately, most of these signals are not in a working condition. The pedestrian signals are installed by the traffic department of the civic body to facilitate pedestrians cross the road safely. Their feedback is that many times, when a vehicle signal goes out of order, the PMC staff cuts the underground cable connections of the pedestrian signals and connects it to vehicle signals. This stops the functioning of the pedestrian signals. Last year, SPTM got 40 pedestrian signals repaired but most of these signals went out of order later. So, SPTM again followed up the issue with the PMC to get these signals repaired.
The SPTM has also appealed to the PMC to repair other pedestrian signals on city roads as soon as possible.
Source: Sakaaltimes, Mar’14
