Pune, 2nd November 2023: With a dedicated focus on improving road safety, the civic administration and traffic police in Pune have zeroed in on 22 accident-prone black spots situated along major roads and crucial intersections, including Nagar Road, Solapur Road, and Satara Road. These locations have witnessed a worrying number of accidents, often leading to fatalities and severe injuries.
In a recent initiative, officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) conducted a thorough survey of these identified spots to evaluate various factors such as traffic flow, the functionality of traffic signals, the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) route, encroachments, and space utilization.
PMC officials have revealed plans to establish a dedicated working cell with the mission of recommending safety measures and devising strategies to reduce the likelihood of accidents at these critical junctions. This cell will actively collaborate with traffic experts and the traffic police to formulate effective measures. Some of the noted accident-prone locations, referred to as black spots, encompass Katraj Chowk, Vimannagar Chowk, Khadi Machine Chowk, Sainathnagar Junction, 509 Chowk, Kharadi Octroi Chowk, and Mai Mangeshkar Hospital Chowk.
During their inspections, PMC teams identified erratic traffic movements at specific junctions, contributing to accidents. Issues such as wrong-side driving, unauthorized use of BRTS lanes by private vehicles, over-speeding, and inadequate provisions for pedestrians to cross junctions were recognized as common factors.
An official from PMC’s road department pointed out particular challenges at Katraj Chowk, including limited space for vehicle turns, insufficient access to Kondhwa Road, and disruptions caused by PMPML buses towards the terminus.
The civic body intends to tailor individualized plans for each junction, taking into account the unique local conditions, and will actively seek feedback from both the traffic police and experts during the finalization of these plans.
Transport experts and regular commuters have expressed concerns about the daily commute becoming increasingly challenging due to rampant traffic violations and inadequate planning at many city junctions. Residents emphasize the need for proper traffic management to address issues like rash driving.
The persistent issue of black spots and accident-prone locations was also discussed in a meeting led by Collector Rajesh Deshmukh on October 30, addressing concerns in both urban and rural areas of the district.
