Activists Urge PMC To Improve Public Transport As Pune Ranks 4th Among World’s Most Congested Cities

Pune has emerged as the fourth-most congested city globally and the third in India, according to the Dutch-based TomTom traffic survey. Kolkata and Bengaluru topped in India, with average travel times of 34 minutes 33 seconds and 34 minutes 10 seconds, respectively, to cover 10 kilometres. Pune closely follows with 33 minutes. The cities also report low average vehicle speeds—17.4 kmph in Kolkata, 17.6 kmph in Bengaluru and 18 kmph in Pune.

Meanwhile, city activists expressed concern and emphasised that the administration should encourage citizens to ditch private vehicles and focus on improving public transport.

Jugal Rathi, a well-known cyclist, said, “Private vehicles plying on roads should be reduced. A zero-tolerance traffic rule should be implemented. Heavy vehicles should be allowed only after analysing the area of the road during peak hours. Additionally, public transport should be improved. If the administration knows about the reason for traffic congestion, then why do they not have a complete solution? There is no space for pedestrians and cyclists on the roads. Illegal stalls and hawkers have taken up the entire space.”

Activist Vivek Velankar said, “A sufficient and efficient number of public vehicles should be utilised. As we are seeing after the metro in the city, a lot of people have opted it for convenience and facilities inside it. Similarly, if PMPML buses are available with smart facilities and cleanliness, people will opt for them too. Secondly, the quality of the roads should be improved. There are potholes and unnecessary speed breakers everywhere. Most of the traffic signals do not function, and there is no police available to manage traffic congestion. We only see traffic police standing at the corner of the road in groups to collect fines.”

Harshad Abhiyankar from Save Pune Traffic Movement, said, “Unless the selling of new private vehicles is capped, the problem of traffic in Pune is not going to be solved. As per the comprehensive mobility traffic plan, the use of public transport should be more. We are not improving the cycle paths for commuters but we are increasing flyovers and additional routes for vehicles. People have no routes to use bicycles. There is zero hope if we cannot stop the new vehicle count. Now, Pune is in third position but soon it will be on top.”