Kodre plays Gandhigiri for BRTS lane violators

In view of growing accidents on BRTS routes, city mayor Chanchala Kodre made a spot visit on the BRTS routes on Tuesday and presented roses to private vehicle drivers who broke the rule and entered the BRTS lanes. Expressing displeasure over PMPML officials’ absence during her visit, Kodre said that traffic wardens would be deployed on experimental basis by taking help from private sponsors.

After criticism from all corners on accidents in the past 15 days on BRTS routes, the mayor decided to visit the BRTS route on Tuesday. DCP (traffic) Vishwas Pandhare, additional city engineer (Traffic Planning) Srinivas Bonala, MSRTC Pune division controller Ashok Jadhav, senior manager at the Swargate Depot Vilas Bandal accompanied her. It was decided to go for such BRTS route visit on a regular basis.

Mayor Kodre took the administration to task when she found that the road had become slippery at a few spots due to leakage of oil and there were no zebra crossing markings, no safety marks on the dividers indicating dividers, lack of cat eyes traffic boards and other deficiencies. Bonala informed that the administration was in the process of making all the improvements and repairs wherever required. Kodre instructed Ashok Jadhav and Bandal to take immediate measures for taking due precautions by MSRTC buses while entering the BRTS routes. She made a demand to the traffic branch for providing adequate traffic wardens on the BRTS routes. She also said that efforts for deploying traffic wardens on the experimental basis with the help of private industries were yielding success.

Mayor pulls up PMPML officials
Mayor Chanchala Kodre sought explanation from PMPML joint managing director Pravin Ashtikar and other concerned officials of PMPML for not attending this BRTS route visit. The mayor’s office has informed through a press release that the PMPML officials were duly informed about this visit and despite that the officials kept away from the visit. Kodre has said the absence of PMPML officials reflects on how serious the PMPML administration is about these accidents.

350 caught on second day of special drive

Keeping in view the increasing number of fatal accidents, the Pune traffic police department continued their special drive and caught commuters plying illegally on the Bus Rapid Transit System, route.

At least 350 vehicle drivers were caught on Tuesday and a total fine of Rs42,000 was collected. The drive was carried out on the stretch between Hadapsar and Katraj. On Monday, the traffic police caught 549 vehicles drivers in BRTS lane.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Vishwas Pandhare said, “It is important that commuters realise the fact that BRTS route is not for plying private vehicles. Even after conducting an awareness campaign, things where not getting under control, therefore we have to hold this special drive.”

Pandhare further said that the traffic police would conduct the special drive till the number of defaulters comes down. “We do not want to collect fine from commuters. Our main objective is make commuters aware of the significance of keeping away from the BRTS route.”

More than 350 vehicles drivers were caught on Tuesday at Hadapsar, majority of them were IT professionals and businessmen who take the route so that they can save some time and avoid traffic jam.

Senior police inspector of Hadapsar traffic department, Tukaram Surve said, “Most of the time IT professionals tend to use BRTS lane so that they can reach their office in time. They do not realise the fact that they violating traffic rules. Once dedicated traffic wardens are placed on the BRTS route, the number of defaulters will come down.”