Road users of Pune city face severe problems because of absence of signage, lane markings and other facilities. No-parking signs are not clear at many places. At some places zebra crossings are missing or not painted at proper locations. There are no permanent parking facilities for tourist buses or trucks coming to Pune. If there is proper traffic infrastructure on all roads, it will help improve traffic sense and discipline. A strong message has to be sent out by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) that it would give importance to facilities for pedestrians, bus commuters, bicycle users, and mobility of people, instead of having all policies which are vehicle-centric.
The PMC should prepare its policies for pedestrians, hawkers and parking which will help deal with encroachment issues, congestion and traffic problems in the long run. Roads with proper signage and facilities will also help in improving vehicular traffic and reducing the hardships of pedestrians and cycle user. Temporary solutions would not work.
The traffic branch has suggested that the PMC can act as a facilitator for handing over the roads to corporate companies and prominent road developers who would maintain them with signage and zebra crossings and also provide other facilities for road users. Deputy Commissioner of police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhre said that, all problems related to bad road and sign boards could be solved if the roads are handed over to corporate companies. Movement of heavy vehicles through the city should be restricted. This problem can be solved if the Katraj-Kondhwa Road and the Theur Phata to Wagholi Road are strengthened, he added. The minister also asked the civic officials to take immediate decision on operation of CCTV cameras installed to keep watch on traffic rules violators.
Coordinator for management development centre of the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) Prashant Kakade said that all traffic issues can be addressed through UMTA – a single authority which will have representations of the two municipal corporations and other stake holders, such as the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) and the traffic police. The issue of shortage of funds for the traffic department could be addressed through UMTA. Deputy Commissioner of police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhare said a separate traffic department needs to be created in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to take prompt and immediate action on all works suggested by the traffic department.
The traffic signal installation and maintenance work, marking of zebra crossings and signage are all done by the municipal corporation. We have been demanding that the works be handed over to the traffic police, but the PMC has declined to do so.
