Review of Measures Taken by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to Solve Traffic Congestion in Chakan Area

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed immediate implementation of measures to alleviate traffic congestion in the Chakan area, which is vital to the industrial development of Pune district and the state. These measures include providing parking spaces at traffic-prone areas, removing encroachments on the national highway, and restricting heavy vehicles outside the industrial area during employee commute hours. He instructed the Collector of Pune and the Commissioner of Police of Pimpri-Chinchwad to personally inspect the area and take appropriate actions to relieve the Chakankars from traffic jams.

Ajit Pawar reviewed the measures in his committee room at the Ministry, accompanied by Industry Minister Uday Samant, MLA Dilip Mohite Patil, Additional Chief Secretary of Planning Department Rajagopal Deora, Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department O.P. Gupta, Public Works Department Secretary Sadashiv Salunkhe, and others. Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar, National Highway Authority Divisional Officer Anshuman Srivastava, PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhse, Pune Collector Suhas Diwase, and senior police officers participated via video conference.

Pawar highlighted the heavy traffic in Talegaon Chowk of Chakan and emphasized the need for additional police manpower to manage traffic. He stressed controlling unlicensed rickshaws, ensuring round-the-clock traffic discipline, and coordinating efforts among the Public Works Department, MIDC, Revenue, National Highway Authority, and Police to solve traffic issues. He ordered the immediate removal of all road and highway encroachments and regular monitoring of the same. MIDC was instructed to make available open spaces along the four-lane highway passing through Chakan, while the highway authority was urged to prioritize the construction of a six-lane road.

Ajit Pawar suggested that traffic in Talegaon Chowk be diverted through alternative routes to avoid jams, especially during peak hours. He recommended that the PMRDA establish a truck terminus on the Gairan land beside Bhandara Hill to manage heavy vehicle traffic during rush hours.

Regarding parking, Pawar noted the high number of heavy vehicles in Chakan and the resulting congestion. He proposed transferring the site for a truck terminal within MIDC to PMRDA, which should start developing a parking lot there. Companies were instructed to provide on-site parking for trucks and containers. A new parking lot should be constructed using the area of Pazar Lake in front of the Volkswagen Company, ensuring ample central parking space.

Ajit Pawar announced that Rs. 179 crores from the budget would be allocated for widening new roads to solve traffic congestion in Chakan. This fund should expedite the work. Additionally, MIDC was directed to provide 4 acres of land for local waste treatment from 17 nearby villages and industrial areas. A waste processing center using the latest technology should be established at this site.