The Congestion Story

Time: Peak Hours – Everyday Morning & Evening

Where: University of Pune Circle, Ganeshkhind Road

Problem: Lengthy stoppage of traffic resulting in serpentine queues of vehicles

Going to work or coming from work – many Citizens of Pune or PCMC need to cross this vital junction of University of Pune Circle. It is a fact not hidden from anybody that the traffic flow and congestion is one of the worst in pune - the recently declared Smart City.

Causes for the Chaos:

Four major arterial roads meet at the University of Pune Circle - connecting Aundh, Baner, Pashan and PCMC to Shivaji Nagar.
The traffic coming from University of Pune and Senapati Bapat Road add to the congestion.
The intersection is the biggest in Pune West and the first major stoppage for traffic coming from the Mumbai Highway, Baner, Aundh, Pimple Saudagar, Pimple Nilakh, Sangvi, Chinchwad etc.
The flyover only allows for one-way movement towards Aundh, Baner and Pashan, which is insufficient.
‘Land Lock’ in and around Aundh/ Baner/ Pashan belts due to abundance of Government Institutions and Prestigious Bungalow Schemes – thus making optional traffic routes practically NIL for daily commuters - therefore forcing to drive through University Circle.
 

Possible Solutions:

a) In short-term

• Study of Traffic density on each of these arterial roads - accordingly propose longer green signals for roads having more traffic.
• Widen the roads to allow more cars to cross through the signal at a time, wherever possible.
• Implementation/ Proposal of alternate routes for daily commuters - wherever proposed in DP/ possible in DP.

b) In long-term

• Develop ring road to allow traffic coming from areas like Aundh, Baner, Sanghvi, Pimple Saudagar and Pimple Nilakh to the other end of the city.
• Develop public transport to absorb larger number of commuters.
• Construct an Over-Bridge or Subway from Rajbhavan in Aundh and Baner Road till E-Square on Ganeshkhind Road to minimize vehicles density at the traffic signal.

We call upon the decision makers, and Planners to find a workable solution for the ever-growing traffic at this crossing.

Kapil Jain, Arun Gupta, Geeta Hegde, and all the Citizens standing in the queue.
for the Citizens of Pune.