Pune is rising at a quick tempo with the realm of the town doubling after the merger of close by villages. The inhabitants of Pune is rising quickly with an unprecedented inflow of individuals. Now the town can be witnessing a development increase. Nevertheless, infrastructure wanted to maintain such a progress is lagging far behind in all important sectors — water, electrical energy, sewage, stable waste, roads, transport, well being, schooling, public facilities and so forth.
Site visitors congestion has now turn out to be a serious drawback in Pune, gravely affecting mobility which is a main want of individuals. Aside from the intense concern of rising air, noise and thermal air pollution resulting from automobiles, the variety of accidents on the roads of Pune and the ensuing casualties has additionally been on the rise. With prime precedence given for vehicle-centric measures, infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and bus commuters is being uncared for. The circumstances for this most susceptible part of road-users have therefore turn out to be life-threatening. Senior residents, the infirm, these with particular wants, girls and kids are essentially the most badly hit.
Thus the state of affairs in Pune has been progressively deteriorating from dangerous to worse and the receding 12 months 2024 has not been any exception. So what must be carried out to treatment the state of affairs?
Regulation of development
With a lot greater FSI (floor-space index) being granted, high-rise residential buildings, industrial complexes and so forth. are mushrooming in numerous components of the town, even on slim roads and in already congested areas. Greater FSI can be accessible for Metro corridors, ostensibly for densifying the corridors to enhance ridership. PMC appears to be viewing the development increase as a profitable income to generate extra funds by improvement prices, sale of TDR, premium FSI, property tax and so forth. The actual fact being neglected is that if such progress continues unabated, it can spell doom for the town.
The minimal consideration that’s required earlier than permitting development in any space is to examine and make sure the adequacy of its capability and infrastructure:
(a) Whether or not the realm would be capable to maintain the elevated inhabitants density and industrial exercise with the massive inflow of individuals and automobiles within the space.
(b) Whether or not the prevailing infrastructure for public utility providers and roads could be enough for the steeply elevated wants after the huge improvement with greater FSI.
(c) If not, whether or not well timed augmentation of infrastructure is virtually potential contemplating numerous constraints resembling land, funds in addition to all different mandatory sources.
Site visitors-congestion resolution
There will be little doubt that augmentation of street infrastructure could be wanted as the town grows. It’s, nevertheless, mandatory that each one potential measures for extra environment friendly use of current transportation infrastructure be carried out first earlier than main growth or development of latest amenities is taken into account.
The actual concern right here is PMC’s mistaken perception that the site visitors congestion drawback will get simply resolved just by rising the street capability. Therefore, the main target of PMC has at all times been solely on implementing measures resembling street widening, constructing new roads, flyovers and so forth. Nevertheless, again and again it has been proved that such options are by no means enough as automobile progress retains on taking place at a a lot sooner charge. Furthermore, availability of added street capability inevitably results in site visitors ranges going up. Thus, regardless of such measures being persistently taken by PMC for a number of years, the site visitors state of affairs within the metropolis is deteriorating quick daily.
The actual fact is that the shortage of enough, environment friendly, and dependable public transport system and secure non-motorised transport amenities is pushing folks in direction of utilizing their very own automobiles and two-wheelers. The one confirmed sustainable resolution to the site visitors congestion drawback is offering a superb high quality public transport system — community of buses, BRT (Bus Speedy Transit), Metro with feeder bus service, and multi-modal terminals for handy interchange. Sufficient automobile parking facility is required on the terminals and intermediate stations. Secure, enough, and usable amenities for pedestrians and cyclists is a should everywhere in the metropolis — footpaths, street crossings, cycle tracks. Pedestrianisation also needs to be carried out within the core metropolis areas. The main target ought to essentially be on mobility of individuals and never automobiles.
PMC had ready a ‘Complete Mobility Plan’ within the 12 months 2008. Subsequently, PMC has additionally adopted ‘Pedestrian Coverage’ and ‘City Road Design Tips’ within the 12 months 2016 and ‘Cycle Plan’ within the 12 months 2017. Sadly, all these wonderful insurance policies, plans and pointers have largely remained solely on paper. It’s crucial that these must be carried out all through the town with out additional delay.
It is vital that the above talked about actions should not be handled in isolation however an built-in techniques method must be adopted. All such measures will make it potential for folks to commute conveniently with out utilizing their very own automobiles. Thus the variety of automobiles on roads would progressively cut back and the site visitors congestion in addition to air pollution drawback would get resolved progressively.
Highway infrastructure points
Highway development needs to be of a superb high quality with ample life span as per norms. Nevertheless, this isn’t the case in Pune and untimely deterioration is seen, for instance potholes seem on tar roads and cracks develop on concrete roads inside lower than a 12 months of development. It’s seen that with just a few days of rain, the roads in Pune are in tatters. One other concern is of metropolis roads being dug up for numerous causes and never restored to their authentic situation over an unduly lengthy interval.
Common and well timed upkeep of street infrastructure (street floor, street dividers, velocity breakers, footpaths, street markings, signage, alerts, avenue lighting and so forth.) is a should, however not being carried out by PMC.
This 12 months there was heavy flooding within the metropolis throughout the wet season and even the roads turned rivers. It’s evident that the whole storm water drain system on the town roads is in shambles — ill-designed, misaligned, insufficient, and poorly maintained. An in depth investigation by an knowledgeable company and complete overhaul is totally essential to keep away from such hazardous conditions in future.
All such points don’t simply trigger inconvenience to the general public, but additionally lead to numerous security hazards for road-users and deadly accidents. What is required is a correct coverage for street development and upkeep.
About eight years again the PMC Commissioner had constituted a ‘Highway Growth and Highway Upkeep Committee’ to review the problems confronted and provides suggestions. The committee submitted its exhaustive report with suggestions within the 12 months 2016. Nevertheless, it has not been carried out by the PMC. It’s mandatory that the suggestions of the knowledgeable committee be carried out to resolve the issue of faulty roads in Pune.
Highway security
It’s also a undeniable fact that defective street infrastructure within the metropolis is a serious trigger for unsafe street circumstances and accidents. The essential drawback is that almost all roads and junctions in Pune haven’t been designed in any respect, however appear to have simply developed in a haphazard method. PMC ought to strictly comply with its personal ‘City Road Design Tips’ and IRC norms on this matter.
One other concern is automobiles travelling at excessive speeds inflicting an unsafe atmosphere on the roads. I had proposed a ‘Site visitors calming coverage with pointers’ to the PMC within the 12 months 2021. Nevertheless, there has not been any response from PMC within the matter. It’s mandatory that applicable site visitors calming measures to limit automobile speeds to desired decrease stage must be included within the metropolis street infrastructure.
Conclusion
With the sort of insane progress that Pune is experiencing, the prevailing infrastructure is underneath immense pressure and crumbling quick. Issues are actually getting out of hand and Pune is now watching an enormous infrastructure disaster. It is a wake-up name for all to urgently take inventory of the important state of affairs and implement wise remedial measures earlier than it’s too late.
Prashant Inamdar is a civic and transport knowledgeable and convenor, Pedestrians FIRST
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