The Times of India          15.10.2013

4 signals to regulate Baner Road traffic

PUNE: Traffic jams and unruly driving on Baner Road during peak hours may soon be a thing of the past. Four traffic signals are being installed on the road to regulate traffic and make the stretch safer for pedestrians. The first signal is expected to go operational by mid-November.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), based on recommendations from the traffic branch of the Pune police, has identified four junctions on the road that need round-the-clock traffic management. These junctions are the T-crossing at Abhimanshree Society, the intersection at Green Park Hotel, the T-crossing on Pashan link road and the Y-junction in Balewadi phata.

Vishwas Pandhare, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said the decision was prompted by the traffic flow throughout the day. "Not only has the traffic volume increased, but also vehicles don't follow traffic disciple. We have suggested traffic signals to check speeding vehicular movement," he said.

So far, it has been a signal-free ride on Baner Road, with the first official halt at the turn to ITI Road, Aundh. Residential, commercial and office-space development on Baner Road in the last few years have resulted in vehicles crossing at will.

In the absence of traffic signals, negotiating turns or even crossing the road when vehicles speed at each of the four junctions is a battle of nerves, commuters and pedestrians said. Long traffic jams, quarrels and chaotic scenes are common.

Work on the first signal near Hotel Mahabaleshwar has already begun. Shrinivas Bonala, additional city engineer (project) in the PMC, said it would go operational by mid-November. "We have received recommendations from the traffic police. Work orders have already been placed. While installation of the electric pole would be completed by the month-end, getting go-ahead certificates and power connections could take time. Work on the other three signals will begin once the first one is commissioned," he said.

The PMC's junior engineer Jalinder Singh Rajput said, "We need to ensure safe movement of pedestrians at the crossings. Permissions are being sought from the roads department for shifting pipes," he said.