Signals off, traffic jams Pune's Vetalbaba Chowk

Motorists have to face long and agonising wait at Vetalbaba Chowk on Senapati Bapat Road in peak traffic hours on account of manual handling of vehicular flow.

Although there is a signalling system at the busy road junction, the traffic police have switched it off and manage the flow manually. Consequently, motorists have to wait longer than usual before the traffic constables allow them to move.

Traffic police officers said the move to switch off the signal and manage the traffic manually is a deliberate one to prevent chaos at that junction.

Police sub-inspector at Chatuhshrungi police chowki, Sanjay Patange, who is in charge of traffic in the area, told DNA that there are three consecutive traffic signals at Patrakarnagar Chowk, Vetalbaba Chowk and Shivaji Housing Chowk.

“All these three traffic signals are synchronised. Hence, when there is heavy traffic flow from one side, we switch off these signals in an effort to enable free flow of traffic. If we do not take this measure there would be chaos at the junction and movement of vehicles would not be smooth,” he added.

When asked about the congestion that occurs due the manual direction of the traffic, Patange said the scenario is worse when the traffic signals operate. “With the monsoon, these rush hours are very difficult to handle. In these circumstances it is required to manually regulate traffic,” he stated.

Local residents and shopkeepers feel things are not improving by managing the traffic manually. Satish Sandbhor, a local resident, told DNA, “The manual handling of traffic does not make any difference to the jam. It is better to leave to it to technology.”

The additional city engineer of the Pune Municipal Corporation, Srinivas Bonala, said maintenance of traffic signals is the responsibility of the civic body. “However, switching the signals off and on depends on the traffic police,” he added.