Pune: Mercedes-Benz India CEO Highlights Chakan Traffic Woes; Extended Commutes Hurt Employees’ Work-Life Balance
Pune: Mercedes-Benz India CEO Highlights Chakan Traffic Woes; Extended Commutes Hurt Employees' Work-Life Balance
Mercedes-Benz India CEO Raises Concerns Over Traffic Woes in Chakan, Government Promises Swift Action
Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, has raised concerns over the worsening traffic congestion in Chakan, Pune, which is significantly affecting the daily commute for the company’s employees. The prolonged travel time, which has increased by nearly an hour, has forced the company to adjust its bus schedules, impacting employees’ work-life balance by cutting into time with their families.
The Mercedes-Benz production facility in Chakan is not alone in facing these issues; the area’s traffic congestion is a major concern for numerous industries. While traffic is manageable in the mornings, the situation deteriorates considerably during evening rush hours. Iyer revealed that the company has urged the government to take immediate action, and the government has assured improvements within the next 15 to 20 days, offering a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered employees.
Dilip Batwal, Secretary of the Federation of Chakan Industries, emphasized the need for urgent measures, stating, “Encroachments on roads have been removed, but immediate road widening and increased police presence for traffic regulation are necessary. Long-term solutions should be prioritized to resolve the congestion issue.”
S.N. Choudekar, Executive Engineer at the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), confirmed that encroachments in Chakan Chowk have been cleared and heavy vehicles are now restricted during peak company exit times. Temporary repairs have been made to potholes, including those near the Mercedes-Benz plant, and tenders for more permanent repairs will be issued once the monsoon season ends.
