Pune: Measures like reducing crisscross movement at junctions, clearing encroachments, overhauling PMPML routes, introducing smaller buses in crowded areas and implementing a pay-and-park system on busy stretches were among the key suggestions proposed at a high-level meeting on Saturday to ease congestion in the city, as worsening traffic continues to turn daily commutes into an ordeal.The meeting, held by city unit of Congress, brought together key stakeholders, including traffic police officers and officials of PMPML, RTO and Pune Metro, all grappling with the same pressing question: How to untangle Pune’s ever-worsening traffic nightmare.Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Sandeep Bhajibhakre said the department had begun re-engineering major junctions in coordination with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). “The focus is on junction engineering to ensure smoother and faster vehicle movement,” he said.Pointing to the recent overhaul at RTO Chowk, Bhajibhakre explained how eliminating right turns and introducing U-turns had significantly reduced congestion and waiting time. “Encouraged by the results, we are now planning similar interventions at other traffic hotspots,” he said.On the public transport front, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML)’s joint managing director Alice Pore acknowledged the growing strain on the system but hinted at a strategic shift. “We are exploring the introduction of smaller buses that can navigate the narrow and crowded lanes of core city areas,” she said, adding that nearly 95% of the commuters already had access to bus stops within 500 metres. She also stressed the need to improve frequency and rationalise routes to make services more efficient.Pore also highlighted a critical infrastructure bottleneck — lack of space. “Our existing depots are inadequate to park buses and we urgently need land not just for parking but also for creating bus stops near Metro stations,” she said, underlining the interconnected nature of the city’s transport challenges.Hosting the meet, Congress city president and former MLA Dipti Chavdhari painted a stark picture of daily life in Pune. “Commuting has become a nightmare for citizens. The meeting aimed to create a unified platform where all stakeholders could confront the issue head-on, she said, while announcing that a follow-up review in the coming months to assess progress, assuring that the party would continue to amplify the concerns of common citizens.Adding to the urgency, additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil outlined immediate measures, including removing traffic signals at select junctions, introducing one-way roads, eliminating encroachments, widening choke points and completing missing road links. “These measures can bring quick improvement in traffic flow,” he said.But the long-term vision, he said, was in technology-driven solutions, including smarter monitoring systems, apps and stricter enforcement mechanisms to manage the city’s swelling vehicle population.
