Include Traffic Congestion Solutions in the 100-Day Program – Instructions from DCM Ajit Pawar

Pune – Deputy Chief Minister and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar has directed that local representatives, social organizations, and citizens work together with all relevant authorities in coordination to resolve the traffic congestion issue in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. He further instructed that solutions to traffic congestion be included in the 100-day program, taking into account all related suggestions.

He made these statements during a review meeting on traffic problems held at the Vidhan Bhavan. The meeting was attended by Minister of State Madhuri Misal, MP Dr. Medha Kulkarni, Suneetra Pawar, Supriya Sule, MLAs Yogesh Tillekar, Bhimrao Tapkir, Siddharth Shirole, Sharad Sonawane, Gyaneshwar ‘Mauli’ Aaba Katke, Bapusahab Pathare, Babaji Kale, Shankar Mandekar, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinaykumar Chaubey, Pune Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Managing Director of MahaMetro Shravan Hardikar, Chief Executive Officer of Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority Yogesh Mhase, Managing Director of PMPML Deepa Mudhol-Munde, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad Gajanan Patil, and Police Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh.

Mr. Pawar stated that, considering the growing population in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, everyone must take the initiative to reduce traffic congestion. He directed the municipal corporation to identify and immediately remove encroachments on roads, speed up land acquisition for road and traffic projects, and seek assistance from the police department when needed. He also recommended using modern tools and technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and enlisting the help of experts on the matter. Action should also be taken to resolve pending legal cases related to land acquisition.

To address the traffic congestion in Pune city, Mr. Pawar instructed that the traffic signal system managed by Pune Municipal Corporation be handed over to the Police Commissionerate. He also emphasized the completion of the pending works at Navle Bridge and directed that traffic management officers and staff under the Smart City office be transferred to the Police Commissioner’s office.

Private travel services providing passenger transport on the Ahilyanagar and Solapur highways should have designated stops, with provisions for CCTV, electricity, toilets, and drinking water for safety.

Regarding the traffic issues in the Chakan area, Mr. Pawar called for collaboration between Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, the Police Commissionerate, and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to take action. He assured that funds would not be a constraint for improving infrastructure to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Ministers Mrs. Misal and Dr. Kulkarni suggested reducing unauthorized encroachments and solving the traffic problems in the city. MLAs Mr. Tapkir, Mr. Shivtare, and Mr. Pathare offered additional suggestions for traffic congestion solutions.

Mr. Hardikar mentioned that to solve the city’s traffic problem, PMPML buses would need to increase their trips in areas where the metro cannot reach. He emphasized that the fare should be affordable for the public.

Police Commissioner Mr. Kumar said that with the expected increase in population and the expansion of roads, it is essential to implement a policy for travel services stopping in areas such as Wagholi and Solapur Road. He emphasized the use of artificial intelligence in traffic management.

Dr. Bhosale assured that the instructions given in the meeting would be implemented, and pending issues would be resolved by coordinating with all relevant authorities.

Mr. Mhase informed that, in terms of traffic management, work under the Multi-Modal Hub Development Plan has already been approved for the city’s outskirts.

Mr. Shekhar Singh and Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil presented information regarding the traffic congestion and the planned solutions.