Pune: 4 agencies take up Swargate study on avoiding long snarls

PUNE: Even after a joint inspection of the chaotic and perpetually traffic-laden Jedhe Chowk in Swargate carried out by different departments last week to look for solutions, Sunday was no different with stark violations of traffic rules, the core problem that prevents smooth flow despite an underpass and three flyovers.
TOI had carried a series of stories in early June highlighting the traffic mess and provided solutions too.
A PMPML official told TOI that a team of officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation, MSRTC, Pune traffic police and the local Swargate police had inspected the area and all of them had arrived at a consensus that the illegal parking of autorickshaws and many encroachments in the area added to the frequent traffic nightmares.
“The inspection concluded that encroachments should be removed from Jedhe Chowk area, especially near the entrance and exit gates of MSRTC’s Swargate depot. The authorities took some action that day. Illegally parked autorickshaws and many makeshift carts selling food items were removed. More inspections will follow,” the PMPML official said.
On June 16, assistant commissioner of police (Swargate division) Sushama Chavan met different departments to address the traffic jams at the chowk. It was decided that while only a limited number of autorickshaws could stand at both the gates of the MSRTC depot, the other autorickshaws had to park at the other end of Laxminarayan Chowk and coordinate with other drivers.
Some other steps were also taken. While the entry of autorickshaws in the depot was banned, private buses were directed not to park in and around Swargate area. A warning was sent to all rule violators and the police, while stating that a special squad will be created for to keep watch, added that action under Section 283 of IPC (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) will be initiated.
“Last week, we had taken action against some rule violators. A team of 10 people from the Pune traffic police, PMC and PMPML has been formed. However, at present some of these authorities have been busy with the the preparations for the palkhis’ arrival. Once this is over, we will start the drive again,” Chavan said.
Last month, the MSRTC had started an experiment under which some of buses were made to exit from the Pune-Satara Road end. An official with the Swargate depot said that the practice is still on.
“We have been looking at the traffic condition and there is some improvement. MahaMetro has made some changes in their construction site which has helped a bit. However, if we find that the traffic situation is worsening again, we will start our measures in a full-fledged manner again,” the official said.
A PMPML official said that they had told the civic body to reduce the width of a footpath near Laxminarayan Chowk which has two bus stops.
“These bus stops are underneath the Y-bridge. We noticed that the footpath was blocking the road width. We told the PMC to reduce its width so that an extra lane is created for vehicles. However, near the bus stops too, the grouping of autorickshaws is a problem. A continuous campaign is needed to discipline autorickshaw drivers,” the official said.