Pune Traffic Police’s May 31 Deadline: Race Against Monsoon Chaos
The Pune Traffic Police have set a May 31, 2025 deadline for completing all road-digging works to prevent monsoon-induced gridlocks, but skepticism looms among citizens and officials alike. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
1. The Deadline and Its Significance
- Monsoon Preparedness: With Pune’s monsoon season starting in June, incomplete roadworks risk worsening potholes, flooding, and accidents. The deadline aims to ensure roads are restored before heavy rains.
- Scope of Work: Over 350 km of roads under PMC limits are being dug up for projects like stormwater drainage, CCTV networks, and water supply upgrades. Taxpayers are footing a ₹600 crore bill for excavation and restoration.
2. Public Frustrations and Challenges
- Coordination Failures: Multiple agencies digging roads simultaneously—PMC, police, utilities—have caused severe traffic snarls in areas like Prabhat Road, Karvenagar, and Narhe-Dhayari. Residents report chaotic commutes and unsafe conditions due to open trenches and dust.
- Health and Safety: Elderly citizens and children face heightened risks from potholes and pollution. A resident of Sadashiv Peth lamented, “Walking on dug-up roads feels like navigating a warzone”.
- Historical Delays: Past missed deadlines (e.g., incomplete Metro extensions) fuel doubts about PMC’s ability to meet the May 31 target.
3. PMC’s Measures and Enforcement
- Cost-Sharing Model: Government agencies pay only 50% restoration charges (₹6,000 per running meter vs. ₹12,000 for private firms). PMC spends ₹7,000–8,000 per meter on repairs.
- Fines and Monitoring: In 2024, PMC fined contractors ₹50 lakh for unauthorized digging on Nagar Road and Sinhagad Road. Officials claim improved coordination to reduce redundant work by 200 km.
- Traffic Diversions: Experimental U-turn systems at Mundhwa Chowk aim to ease peak-hour chaos, but residents demand long-term fixes like flyovers.
4. Long-Term Solutions in the Pipeline
- Double-Decker Flyover: A proposed ₹80 crore flyover on Paud Road (with Metro viaduct integration) could bypass four major chowks, easing traffic from Pirangut and Mumbai Bypass.
- Tech-Driven Planning: Citizens urge PMC to adopt trenchless technologies for utilities to minimize road-digging. “Why dig roads yearly when better planning can save costs?” asked activist Vijay Kumbhar.
5. What’s Next?
- Strict Oversight: PMC’s road department vows to monitor restoration quality and penalize delays. Aniruddha Pawaskar, PMC Road Head, stated, “Emergency works post-May 31 will require special permits”.
- Community Action: Residents in Prabhat Road are self-managing traffic during peak hours due to absent wardens. They demand more police deployment near construction zones.
“Do you think PMC will meet the May 31 deadline? Share your experiences with Pune’s roadworks in the comments. Follow puneripages.in for real-time updates!”
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