Pune’s City Police Commissioner, Amitesh Kumar, conducted an inspection on Tuesday morning to assess the ongoing traffic situation at the SPPU junction, a crucial intersection connecting Ganeshkhind Road with Aundh, Baner, and Pashan. The inspection follows a disruptive accident on Saturday that significantly impacted the flow of vehicles through the busy junction, leaving commuters stranded for extended periods.
The SPPU junction plays a pivotal role in connecting various locations in Aundh, Baner, and Pashan with Ganeshkhind Road, extending up to the Hinjewadi IT Park. During peak morning and evening hours, a substantial number of vehicles traverse this junction, contributing to the persistent congestion issue.
The ongoing Metro rail works by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) have further exacerbated the traffic congestion in the area. Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, who assumed office on February 1, has identified addressing traffic congestion as a top priority and directed PMRDA and traffic officials to take immediate steps to alleviate road congestion.
The commissioner has scheduled another review meeting on Thursday to discuss and implement additional measures to improve the traffic situation. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shashikant Borate emphasized collaboration with PMRDA and other stakeholders, including the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), to comprehensively study and address the challenges at the SPPU junction.
Borate stated, “Our focus is on analyzing vehicular movement at the SPPU junction, considering various roads converging there, and developing strategies to reduce traffic snarls. The ongoing road development project and Metro works on Ganeshkhind Road have narrowed the carriage width, leading to traffic jams.”
He further added, “We are exploring alternative routes, such as the Aundh-Khadki road and the old Pune-Mumbai highway, to divert traffic and prevent congestion at the SPPU junction. Redirecting motorists towards these routes can significantly ease the burden on the SPPU junction and improve overall traffic flow.”
Traffic congestion at the SPPU junction has a cascading effect on neighboring roads like SB Road, JM Road, FC Road, various internal roads of Model Colony, and Shivaji Road. Authorities are actively working on a comprehensive plan to enhance road infrastructure and optimize traffic management in the affected areas.
