‘Absolutely No Road Discipline’: Wrong-Side Driving Chaos Near Pune’s Jupiter Hospital Draws Backlash Online
‘Absolutely No Road Discipline’: Wrong-Side Driving Chaos Near Pune’s Jupiter Hospital Draws Backlash Online
Traffic indiscipline in Pune is once again under the spotlight, with a recent viral video exposing blatant wrong-side driving near Jupiter Hospital Chowk in Baner. The footage, widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter), shows motorists occupying two full lanes from the opposite side of the road, creating chaos on the stretch that links Pune and PCMC via the flyover.
For daily commuters, such reckless driving has become more than just an inconvenience — it’s a serious safety hazard. The anger on social media reflects growing frustration over repeated violations and the lack of civic responsibility among road users.
The larger picture is even more alarming. According to Pune Police records, 1,404 accidents were reported in 2024 alone, resulting in 320 fatalities and leaving 1,320 people injured. The data highlights a disturbing upward trend in road mishaps, where even bystanders or law-abiding drivers often end up paying the price.
Authorities have been introducing tech-driven measures to rein in such offenses. Earlier this year, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar inaugurated an AI-powered camera system on FC Road. These cameras are designed to automatically detect and penalize violations such as double parking, no-parking, wrong-side driving, and traffic obstruction.
Taking the crackdown further, the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) recently deployed four new AI-enabled patrol vehicles equipped with radar-based Mobile Tracking Enforcement System (MTES) technology. These advanced units can capture violations in real time and issue e-challans without requiring physical intervention by traffic police.
However, despite these advancements, rule-breaking continues unabated across many parts of the city. Shockingly, even some personnel meant to enforce traffic discipline have been spotted ignoring the very laws they are tasked with upholding.
