Pune : Traffic jams on Aundh-Ravet road to stop; new subway, what are the benefits?

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is going to construct a new subway in Rakshak Chowk to reduce the constant traffic jam of passengers on the Aundh-Ravet route. It is claimed that this will make travel easier and save time.

The 14-km Aundh-Ravet Road connecting Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune is the main link between the two cities. However, there is a constant traffic jam at this place. As Rakshak Chowk is a major signalized junction in the middle of an important ‘transit corridor’, commuters have to wait for one to two minutes.

There is dissatisfaction among the citizens due to the problem of traffic congestion on the road. Keeping this need in mind, the municipality has taken a decision to give priority to accessibility in the public transport system. Comprehensive factors such as development of pedestrian crossings and safe access to ‘BRTS’ stops have been considered for subway construction.

Feedback will also be sought from the locals for the solution of related issues and the design of the subway, as well as the implementation process.

This road has been spent as per ‘Urban Street Design’. It is feared that the expenditure incurred due to this will be wasted. However, the proposed subway will not hamper the ‘urban street scaping’ project. The municipal administration has claimed that the footpath constructed under the street scaping project will not be damaged during the construction and excavation work for the subway.

PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh said that the number of commuters using the Mula bridge on the Aundh-Ravet route is increasing. Due to this, there is constant traffic jam in Rakshak Chowk. Subway will be developed as a strategic solution to it. This will reduce the traffic congestion and create order for the residents.