Pune Sees Significant Traffic Improvements: Vehicle Speed Up by 10.44%, Congestion Down 53%
Pune Sees Significant Traffic Improvements: Vehicle Speed Up by 10.44%, Congestion Down 53%
Pune’s traffic woes seem to be easing, according to a recent study by the city’s traffic police. The city traffic branch has reported a notable improvement in traffic conditions over the past four months. Vehicle speeds have increased by a significant 10.44%, and congestion at key choke points has decreased by a remarkable 53%. Officials credit these improvements to strategic initiatives like signal synchronization and enhanced training for traffic personnel in soft skills, which have clearly made a positive impact on the city’s traffic flow.
Pune’s traffic police have pinpointed 11 major contributors to the city’s congestion woes. These include indiscipline at junctions, traffic rule violations, potholes, ongoing infrastructure projects, heavy vehicle flow, festivals, processions, vehicle breakdowns, accidents, VIP movements, and malfunctioning traffic signals. A study conducted by the police revealed a slight decrease in traffic congestion incidents over the first quarter of 2024. In January, 184 incidents were recorded, compared to 118 in February and 126 in March.
Police officials emphasized the department’s proactive approach to traffic management. They closely monitor congestion through live traffic feeds from major roads, with a particular focus on 32 key arterial routes.
The officer explained, “The control room staff swiftly address congestion alerts from live feeds, public complaints, and other sources, coordinating with ground staff to clear the traffic.”
The study also revealed a slight improvement in average congestion levels, dropping to 34% in November-December 2024 compared to 36% during the same period in 2023. These improvements can be attributed to a range of measures implemented by the traffic police. These include banning right turns at specific intersections, widening roads in collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), relocating luxury bus stands, and removing encroachments.
The officer acknowledged that while authorities can effectively regulate traffic at junctions, enforce discipline, and manage congestion during festivals, certain factors remain beyond their control. These include vehicle breakdowns, VIP movements, and sudden signal failures.
He stated, “The traffic police pinpointed 20 hotspots where congestion is recurring. Short-term solutions, such as relocating bus stops, moving private luxury bus stands, removing traffic islands, and separating heavy vehicles, have significantly eased the traffic flow.
The additional police commissioner attributed the successful synchronization of signals at Juna Bazaar Chowk and RTO Chowk as a cost-effective measure that increased vehicle speed and reduced congestion.
He mentioned, “As a result, the number of daily traffic jams has decreased from 38 to 22, allowing commuters to spend less time in traffic. He pointed out that these strategic actions have improved the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Pune’s traffic management.”
Between November-December 2023 and the same period in 2024 and early 2025, traffic congestion has decreased by 21%, and the time to travel 10 km has been shortened by one minute. In 2023, Pune commuters spent an average of 109 hours and 45 minutes annually stuck in traffic. This reduced to 108 hours in 2024, with further improvements seen in 2025. Overall, the average speed of vehicles has increased by 10.05%.
Activist Jaymala Dhankikar said, “I call on the police to persist in their efforts to improve the city’s traffic situation and adopt more innovative solutions to ensure a safer commute for all.”
