PMC Sets Up Traffic Planning Department to Ease Congestion and Boost Coordination with Traffic Police

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has established a dedicated traffic planning department to tackle traffic congestion and work in close coordination with the traffic police. This initiative, announced through an order on Friday by municipal commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, aims to streamline urban mobility and improve transportation infrastructure in the city.The newly formed department will be led by Aniruddha Pawaskar, the road department chief superintendent, who has been given additional charge as its head. To support traffic-related projects, seven engineers have been appointed. The Pune police are already collaborating with the PMC to enhance traffic management across the city.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

According to Nikhil Mijar, traffic planner, the department will coordinate with multiple stakeholders like PMPML, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and the traffic police on traffic-related issues. A major focus will be on planning public transport systems such as the Metro, Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), monorail, and non-motorized transport (NMT). Additionally, it will oversee executive tasks suggested by the traffic police, such as installing zebra crossings, parking/no-parking boards, and other basic infrastructure.The department’s responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with police to enforce traffic rules.
• Implementing infrastructure projects such as sidewalks, cycle tracks, subways, flyovers, and High-Capacity Mass Transit Routes (HCMTR) for roads with widths of 24 meters or more.
• Coordinating with agencies like PMRDA, PWD, irrigation department, MSEDCL, MSRDC, PMPML, and Maha-Metro for seamless transport planning.
• Developing an efficient public transport system and addressing traffic challenges.
• Creating policies and infrastructure solutions to improve urban mobility.

The department will also focus on ensuring smooth transportation through infrastructure development and will undertake additional assignments given by senior officials. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance Pune’s urban transport system.