Puneites are not likely to get any respite from the traffic congestion as city’s vehicle population is expected to cross 35 lakh mark by the end of this month. Nearly 14 lakh vehicles have been added to city’s  vehicle population in the last ten years. Vehicle population of Pune including Pimpri Chinchwad has already crossed the 34.90 lakh mark at the end of February. The registrations for new vehicles are expected to rise in March before the end of financial year. Although Pune is growing rapidly, the poor public transport system has not been able to keep up pace with Pune’s growth rate. While the city is expanding in every direction, there is poor connectivity of public transport system and therefore Puneites are forced to use private vehicles. While Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad areas have a population of nearly 55 lakh, the vehicle population is nearing 35 lakh mark. According to the regional transport officials, nearly 700 vehicles are registered with the Pune RTO daily of which most of the vehicles are two-wheelers. According to the Pune RTO’s statistics, till February end, the vehicle population of Pune including Pimpri Chinchwad was 34,90,569. Out of the total vehicle population, Pune city has a total of 24,53,717 vehicles while Pimpri Chinchwad has a population of 10,36,852 vehicles.Out of the total 24,53,717 vehicles in Pune, nearly 75% of them that is 18,40,834 are two-wheelers. Apart from two-wheelers, the city has 4,30,440 four-wheelers which includes 3,74,445 small cars. In the year 2003, Pune had a total of 10,57,379 vehicles registered with Pune RTO.The twin city Pimpri Chinchwad is also facing a problem of poor public transport system and it has a total of 10,36,852 vehicles of which 7,72,655 are two-wheelers and 1,55,943 are four-wheelers. Arun Yeola, regional transport officer of Pune division said, “The pace at which new vehicles are getting registered with the Pune RTO, we are expecting the number of vehicles to cross the 35 lakh mark at the end of the financial year. The number has already crossed 34.90 lakh mark in February.”@journoanurag

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