Pune’s traffic problem – diagnosis and possible solutions

Pune’s traffic problem – diagnosis and possible solution

One of the way to get rid of problem is to bring it in limelight and to create uproar so as to create pressure on decision makers to come aboard and solve it. It is the best way not the only way. This statement made fits very well in context to Traffic problem in Pune. It’s not matter of a day or two but we have witnessed augmenting menace on roads for years and raised our voices blaming a system. It is time to ponder over other ways than blaming Ms. PMC and Mr. Politician.

At first hand we have to take responsibility to curb out this chaos on roads at personal level because at first we are victims of it affecting our lungs, eyes, hearts every part of body. Some youth organization came up and did some voluntary work distributing stickers and requesting people to obey traffic rule.

Traffic on any given road is like free flowing water and traffic signals serve the purpose of dam restricting & controlling movement and speed of vehicles. With given 105 chowks on near about 1000 sq. km of road is not a control measure but has totally affected flow of vehicles. Take a drive from Deccan corner to PMC HQ. You will come across some six signals at a stretch of road less than 2 kms of distance. One signal, two signal, three signal…and dam of patience got broken there and people start breaking signal rules. A India based software firm helped traffic police of London to overcome traffic related problem that they did virtual mapping of road and saw painful areas of situation. A similar approach has to be adopted by traffic department when it comes to planning movement and flow of vehicles other than blaming Ms. PMC and Mr. Politician for non-cooperation when it comes to widening of roads.

It is prime time when colleges should brood over to contribute to this gigantic problem and have to come forward to rescue of ‘Oxford of East’. We must follow South Korean example where every citizen came forward to wipe off debris and took vow to keep their streets clean and free from debris. Student population forms a major chunk of biking on the road. Authorities must think over on how to control this while only few have come forward and deployed buses for students. It's one of the way to create space on roads.

Local companies must enhance their social responsibility. Recently, one company decided to call off their operations from city. It’s running away from the problem and not a solution. But joining hands with traffic department sorting while discussing it can be of the way other than blaming Ms.PMC and Mr. Politician. Its time to control biking on the roads and to create space for large vehicles to carry people. It can be one of the way but not the only way. It is time to encourage cycling at least twice in a week. It is time to join hands to sort this problem and it is the only way to combat it, which is affecting our mind, body and souls including Mr. Politician and Ms. PMC.