Pune: Officials & PCCHSF Meet Over Traffic Crisis In Hinjawadi IT Park

Pune officials and representatives from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Cooperative Housing Societies Federation (PCCHSF) convened on Friday to address the escalating traffic crisis plaguing the Hinjawadi IT Park and its environs. The gathering centered on congestion, subpar road conditions, ongoing infrastructure projects, and the urgent requirement for alternative routes in Hinjawadi. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vikrant Deshmukh and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Pradeep Jadhav were among the attendees.

PCCHSF Chairman Sachin Londhe, who is also a petitioner in the Unclog Hinjawadi movement, shared with The Free Press Journal that officials toured the area and engaged in discussions with stakeholders regarding the traffic predicament. Londhe highlighted that heavy rainfall exacerbates the traffic woes, which are not unique to Hinjawadi. Residents expressed frustration, demanding swift completion of works to alleviate congestion, he added.

The agencies acknowledged the issues and pledged to expedite the process. "Agencies including PMRDA, PWD and MIDC told us that they would speed up the process to improve road quality. They also said alternate routes would be made available to help improve the traffic situation," Londhe elaborated.

The discussions also delved into traffic enforcement. Police officials conveyed their limited ability to permanently resolve congestion without addressing infrastructure issues. However, the problem of traffic indiscipline was also raised, leading to a call for stricter action against motorists who violate traffic rules. Several key stretches in and around Hinjawadi, such as Wipro Circle, Laxmi Chowk, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, and the Wakad-Hinjawadi bridge, remain significant bottlenecks.

Kalyan's KDMC Corporator Madhur Mhatre received relief as a defection petition against Konkan Divisional Commissioner was dismissed by the Commissioner.

While the agencies affirmed that work was underway to rectify the problems, residents, employees, and businesses in the IT hub continued to grapple with the severe traffic situation. Heavy traffic is often amplified by rain, substandard road conditions, ongoing construction, and the absence of adequate alternate routes. Londhe expressed optimism as the meeting concluded on a positive note, with agencies promising to implement decisions that would improve the traffic scenario.

"The meeting finished on a positive note. If the decisions are properly implemented, the situation would improve," he concluded.