HARDSHIP IN HINJEWADI - Dedicated bus lane can ease Hinjewadi traffic congestion

Jun 01 2015 : The Times of India (Pune)





The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) and the Pune traffic department plans to start a separate lane for buses coming from Kaspate Vasti, Wakad, to Shivaji Chowk, Hinjewadi to ease the traffic problems of the IT park commuters.“This would ensure smoother and faster movement of buses plying to and from Hinjewadi and they would be able to stick to the timings,“ said Rajendra Madne, general manager, PMPML.“We aim to encourage owners of private vehicles to take the public transport to work,“ he added.
“We will do a trial run once the underpass on the KatrajDehu Road bypass opens,“ said deputy commissioner police (Traffic), Pune, Sarang Awad.
The underpass is set to open by early June. “We hope there will be a major reduction in wrong side driving as people going to Sus, Baner, Katraj and Kothrud areas coming from the IT park would not need to take the U-turn and can straight away take the underpass,“ said Awad. He added that with the opening of the underpass and the ChandeNande route, traffic can be diverted thereby reducing further bottlenecks.
As of now, the separate bus lane would be used to ply PMPML and Metrozip buses ­ a joint venture between the Hinjewadi Industries' Association (HIA), said Awad.
“We requested for Metrozip buses as of now. If companies want their buses to ply on this lane, then a request can be made to the traffic department,“ said Colonel (retd) CS Bhogal, head admin and transport initiative, HIA.
Awad and Madne said an analysis will be done if this will be feasible or not and if the results are positive, then a long-term implementation plan will be chalked out.
While the authorities are trying to brainstorm both longterm and short-term solutions for the Hinjewadi chaos, commuters and IT employees have mixed feelings about this particular initiative. Vijay Kulkarni, a senior employee of an IT firm in RGIP, said, “If the PMPML is able to give good service and maintain the timings then the dedicated lane help in ensuring faster movement of buses.“ He added that it is unlikely that people will give up their private vehicles but the initiative should continue for enough time to make an impact.
Shriprasanna Bavadekar, a senior employee in an IT firm in Phase III in the RGIP , said that the company buses should also be allowed in this lane so that the rest of the traffic can flow smoothly . “The PMPML should ensure buses come after every half an hour from strategic points such as Aundh, Baner, Wakad, Sus and University junction to Hinjewadi. This way , people who travel from far will be encouraged to park their vehicles near these points and use the buses,“ he added.