"Satara Road in Pune during peak hours—will the new traffic plan bring real relief to commuters? Image: PuneriPages.in"
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
PUNE: If you’ve lived in this city long enough, you’ve probably lost more hours in traffic than you’d care to count. So, when MLA Madhuri Misal announced a “comprehensive traffic plan” to fix congestion across Pune, my first reaction was: “Wait, haven’t we heard this before?”
Turns out, we have.
But this time, could it actually be different? I dug into the details so you don’t have to. Here’s what I found.
Table of Contents
What’s in the New Plan?
According to MLA Misal, this new roadmap includes:
- Signal Synchronisation across major junctions
- Construction of flyovers and grade separators at high-traffic zones like Satara Road and Sinhagad Road
- Removal of hawkers at key bottleneck areas
- Improved traffic planning for Katraj Chowk, Market Yard, and Swargate
Also, a team has been asked to submit the entire execution plan within three months.
So far, it sounds… familiar. But let’s give credit where due — they’re at least attempting to tackle specific problem areas. And that brings us to the big question.
Déjà Vu? Past Promises That Fell Short
I looked back at previous promises. In 2020, there was talk of a Smart Signal System for Swargate and Baner. In 2022, a plan for a Sinhagad Road flyover made headlines. What happened? Progress was slow, updates got quieter, and eventually… silence.
This is why people like me (and maybe you too) are cautious.
The Expert Take: Are These Real Fixes?
To get a reality check, I spoke to Prof. Rajiv Deshpande, an urban planner at COEP.
“Flyovers solve congestion at one point, but they often just move the bottleneck 500 metres down the road. Pune needs a robust public transport backbone, and better enforcement on illegal parking.”
He added that signal synchronisation can help, but only if it’s intelligently managed and regularly updated.
What Commuters Are Saying
Nikita Patil, who commutes daily from Katraj to Swargate, told me:
“I’m not getting excited just yet. I remember being stuck under the Katraj flyover even during non-peak hours. Unless they manage driver behavior, illegal parking, and encroachments, even flyovers won’t help much.”
I also managed to chat with a traffic officer stationed at Katraj Chowk. He said:
“Most problems come from bad driving habits and hawkers taking over footpaths. Infrastructure helps, but enforcement is half the battle.”
The Accountability Tracker (Let’s Keep Score Together)
Here’s a quick look at what’s promised — and what we’ll be tracking at PuneriPages.in:
| Promise | Deadline | Lead Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic blueprint | 3 Months | PMC & Traffic Dept. |
| Flyover at Satara Rd | TBD | PMC |
| Signal Synchronisation | Ongoing | Traffic Police + PMC |
| Hawker Eviction Drive | Immediate | Local Police & PMC |
You better believe I’ll be following up on each of these.
Final Thoughts: Will This Time Be Different?
As someone who’s been stuck on Satara Road more times than I can count, I really want to believe. The intention seems good, and the focus areas are valid. But without deadlines, budget allocations, and consistent follow-up, this could become just another announcement lost in Pune’s traffic noise.
So here’s what we’ll do: we’ll track it for you. Expect updates, reminders, and maybe even some pressure on the right folks. Because Punekars deserve to spend less time honking and more time living.
What do you think? Will this plan finally break the jam? Let us know in the comments or DM us on Instagram @puneripages.in.
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