Rising Road Accidents In Pune: MP Medha Kulkarni Calls For Urgent Government Action
Rising Road Accidents In Pune: MP Medha Kulkarni Calls For Urgent Government Action
New Delhi, February 8, 2025– Rajya Sabha member Dr. Megha Vishram Kulkarni has raised concerns over the alarming rise in road accidents in Pune, urging the government to take immediate corrective measures.
Addressing the House, Dr. Kulkarni highlighted that Pune recorded 1,400 road accidents in 2024, resulting in 320 fatalities. The number of accidents has increased compared to the previous year, with two-wheeler riders being the most vulnerable. As many as 174 bikers lost their lives due to reckless driving, overspeeding, and non-compliance with traffic norms.
Pune Police have identified 25 accident-prone zones, with poor road conditions, ongoing construction work, illegal encroachments, and lack of traffic enforcement contributing to the crisis. Other major causes include drunk driving, triple or even four-person riding on two-wheelers, and vehicles being driven on footpaths.
The Bombay High Court has already taken note of Pune’s worsening traffic situation and directed city authorities to implement corrective measures. In response, the Police Commissioner and Pune Municipal Commissioner have taken steps to ease congestion and improve road safety. However, the increasing number of accidents suggests that more stringent action is necessary.
Dr. Kulkarni cited multiple tragic incidents, including a drunk dumper driver in Wagholi who ran over nine sleeping laborers and a dumper accident on Gangadham Road that killed a woman on a two-wheeler. She also referenced the infamous Porsche accident involving a drunk teenage driver and other fatal crashes involving schoolchildren and office-goers.
Demanding stricter measures, she called for deploying more traffic personnel, AI-based CCTV surveillance at accident-prone zones, road infrastructure improvements, harsher penalties for violations, and extensive public awareness campaigns.
“The government must prioritize road safety and take urgent action to prevent further loss of innocent lives,” she urged.
