Pune News: PCMC Engineers, Traffic Police Collaborate To Improve Road Safety With Better Design
Pune News: PCMC Engineers, Traffic Police Collaborate To Improve Road Safety With Better Design
Pimpri, 12 March 2025 :- The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the city’s traffic police have joined forces to enhance road safety through improved street design. A day-long multi-stakeholder workshop, held on Tuesday, brought together officials from both agencies to reimagine Pimpri Chinchwad’s streets with a focus on safety and environmental sustainability. The workshop, inaugurated by PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh, provided hands-on training in safer road design principles.
Titled Fundamentals of Safer Streets, the workshop was organized by PCMC in collaboration with the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), a partner under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS). PCMC has been actively working with GDCI on projects such as redesigning high-risk intersections and implementing a safe school zone pilot in Nigdi.
A total of 73 participants, including PCMC engineers, Pimpri Chinchwad traffic police officials, MahaMetro representatives, and road consultants, attended the session at Auto Cluster, Chinchwad. Key officials present included City engineer Makarand Nikam; Chief engineer Pramod Ombhase; Joint city engineer Bapusaheb Gaikwad; and Deputy commissioner of police ( Traffic) Bapu Bangar.
Commissioner Singh emphasized the importance of designing streets that prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and public transport users. “Our goal is to make Pimpri Chinchwad’s roads safer and more accessible. Workshops like these equip our engineers and enforcement officials with technical knowledge and real-world case studies to refine their approach to road design,” he said.
The workshop combined global best practices with local challenges, helping participants view streets from the perspective of vulnerable road users. Activities included using a device to simulate a child’s eye level (3.2 feet), navigating roads in wheelchairs, and experiencing limited visibility through blindfold exercises to understand the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
Deputy Commissioner Bangar underscored the importance of speed control in saving lives. “This workshop reinforced how speed impacts pedestrian and cyclist safety. Increased enforcement, combined with improved road design, is key to reducing crashes and fatalities. We will continue collaborating with PCMC to implement these measures,” he said.
Jashwanth Tej Kasala, Program Manager at GDCI, highlighted how the training would empower engineers to create safer streets. “By integrating insights from the Global Street Design Guide, this workshop gives engineers new tools and perspectives to prioritize vulnerable road users,” he said.
Scaling up road safety initiatives
PCMC, in partnership with BIGRS, plans to expand such training sessions for engineers across all eight administrative zones in the coming months. These workshops will lay the groundwork for upgrading roads and neighborhoods citywide, enhancing safety and quality of life for all residents.
