Pune: Traffic diversions , poor condition of roads, traffic rule violations have more than doubled the travel time between Shimla Office Chowk and Pune railway station , a distance of barely 2.5km. Commuters are now spending at least 20 minutes in travel time on the stretch as against a normal of 5-10 minutes.
Prashanth Joshi, a regular traveller on the stretch, said the travel time has gone up by at least 20-25 minutes. “Vehicles move at a snail’s pace starting from University Chowk to Pune railway station. The junctions near Shimla Office, Sancheti Hospital and RTO have been facing traffic snarls,” he said.
Regular commuters said the Metro works were under way from Shimla Office to Sancheti Hospital chowks, while a road stretch near RTO Chowk had become risky owing to several gaping potholes. Atul Thite, who recently visited the Civil Court, said the stretch outside the court had been utilised for Metro works. “People are parking their vehicles inside the grade separator.
Motorcyclists are not following one-way traffic rules. Many two-wheeler riders also tend to travel in the wrong direction at RTO Chowk,” Thite said. The Metro authority and the traffic police said wardens were deployed at all the junctions to maintain smooth traffic.
The commuters, however, said the wardens were not proving sufficient to handle the traffic. Sayli Shah, who travelled from Pune station to University Chowk in a car on Monday evening, said the entire stretch was jam-packed. “Vehicles were moving at a snail’s pace.
The situation has worsened after the monsoon onset,” Shah said. Rakesh Mehta, a regular traveller on Shivajinagar to Pune station stretch, said, “Road users are spending almost double the time because of the ongoing works, diversions and barricading. The authorities must stick to project deadlines.
We also want the traffic planners to consider the requirements of citizens while deciding traffic diversions and one-ways.” College student Poonam Mankar said walkers were completely ignored while planning projects. “The bus stops have been shifted at many locations to assist the works, causing problems to travellers.
The construction material is occupying footpaths and roadside spaces too,” Mankar said. Private bank employee Sachin Pandit said the RTO Chowk has become a major congestion point. “The traffic chaos should be handled on priority.
Movement of traffic from Shima Office Chowk towards University Chowk needs to improve,” he said. Local MLA Siddharth Shirole said he had been reviewing the Metro work on the entire stretch. “We have been constantly reviewing the traffic situation.
It is challenging as the entire stretch has a huge vehicular population. Instructions are issued to finish the works at all crucial spots, including the flyover work at University Chowk,” Shirole said. The authorities are looking to complete the Metro work by Nov 2025.
The traffic police department said there was a plan to open the stretches in phases. “Recently, two-way traffic was resumed on University Road. Some improvements in vehicular flow are expected in the Shimla Office and Sancheti Chowk area in the days to come,” a traffic police officer said.
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