Despite declaring it one-way traffic movement in August 2009, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the city traffic police have not put proper infrastructure in place for the safety of road users.
One of the busiest roads in the city, the Jungli Maharaj (JM) Road, continues to be a nightmare for pedestrians. Despite declaring it one-way traffic movement in August 2009, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the city traffic police have not bothered to put proper infrastructure in place for the safety of road users, especially pedestrians.
With vehicles moving at great speed, the pedestrians are at a loss how to cross the busy thoroughfare. The chaos begins at Sancheti Chowk, where the ongoing work of a subway is resulting in overcrowding at peak hours everyday. Absence of safe pedestrian crossings, lack of ramps, lane markings and road signages are a safety hazard for pedestrians, especially old people and children.
It poses a great nuisance for those who travel from Aundh, Baner, Pashan and Wakdewadi, who travel towards the old city or Deccan Gymkhana areas, as more than half road is occupied by the work and leaves no space for commuters.
Encroachments on widened footpaths and parallel double parking of vehicles have added to their woes. The traffic flow does not stop at all opposite the College of Engineering boy’s hostel, making the raised pedestrian crossing at this spot completely redundant.
Vikram Kolekar, a college student said, “It is a tough task for the pedestrians to cross the road. I can’t cross the road without taking a risk.’’
The presence of the Bhosale subway doesn’t make any difference, as hardly any pedestrian uses it. Students of the Modern High School risk their life and limbs and cross the road in face of the oncoming traffic.
At Rani Jhansi Chowk, most of the motorists break the red signal which lasts barely a few seconds. As a result, the traffic flow continues on the road, making it difficult for pedestrians to cross the 29-metre width of the road at any of the zebra crossing opposite Sambhaji Park.
Interestingly, when the authorities decided to implement the one-way system, non-governmental organisations, common people and even schoolchildren of the area had registered their protest against it.
DNA had reported earlier how, after the one-way system was implemented on August 21, 2009, the road dividers, which served as safe islands for pedestrians, were systematically removed without providing effective alternatives.
The convener of the Pedestrians FIRST — an organisation working for the benefit of pedestrians — Prashant Inamdar questioned the inordinate delay on the part of the authorities to put proper infrastructure in place on the busy road for the safety of pedestrians.
“On both sides of the road, vehicles are parked, reducing space for other vehicles to move. Moreover, the pavements in several spots are non-existent. Although the PMC had promised to have proper pavements, nothing has been done so far,’’ Inamdar lamented.
The traffic police admitted that the road would remain unsafe for pedestrians unless proper infrastructure is in place. “We had suggested that after every 25 metres, pedestrians signals be installed. Moreover, the extreme left lane should be earmarked for
buses and proper pavements must come up,” said traffic
police inspector, Vijay Kumar Palsule.
According to PMC officials, the tenders for constructing footpaths on JM Road have been floated by the civic body.
“The process of inviting bids got delayed since the officials were busy with the budget preparation. We shall start making the pavements on that road before the monsoon sets in,’’ an official of the PMC said, requesting anonymity.
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