The Times of India 25.08.2010
PCMC to appoint asst traffic planner
PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has obtained the state government's approval to appoint an assistant traffic planner, whose duties will be that of a traffic planner, a post that has been lying vacant for the last 15 years.
According to assistant commissioner Sudhakar Deshmukh, who is also the chief of administration department, the post of the assistant traffic planners is on par with a deputy engineer. "No suitable candidate with experience in the transport field was available and as a result the post remained vacant for the past several years."
Deshmukh said the PCMC will also be sending a proposal to the state government to change the qualifications required for the post of assistant traffic planner.
Meanwhile, civic officials said the law committee had approved the need to change the necessary qualifications for the post in January and the proposal was approved by the civic general body in March. As per the revised qualification, the candidate must be a BE (civil) degree-holder, should have five years of experience in the PCMC's engineering department and should have a post-graduate degree as well as work experience in the field of transport engineering. Deshmukh said the PCMC does have employees meeting the required qualifications.
The Union ministry of urban transport has recommended that there should be a traffic planner and transport planner in each municipal corporation, said officials. Their task is to improve urban transport, ensure planned development and safe transport. The traffic planner is also supposed to work in close coordination with the traffic police authorities.
Speaking to TOI, senior Shiv Sena corporator Shrirang Barne said, "The PCMC had created the post of a traffic planner in 1996, but did not appoint anyone. The civic body had sent a junior engineer, who had been selected for the post, to Delhi to study transport planning. He has completed the course and should now take charge."
Independent corporator Maruti Bhapkar said, "The population within the PCMC limits has reached 17 lakh. The number of vehicles is also increasing rapidly due to the lack of good public transport. This is leading to traffic congestion and accidents on the roads. The PCMC should fill the post of the traffic planner at the earliest to solve these problems."
