Pune Municipal Corporation to develop bus bays to curb traffic congestion

PMP Pravasi Manch- the bus commuters group, had urged the Pune Municipal Corporation to set up bus bays across all the bus stops in the city. The demand put forward has been accepted and the authority has decided to construct bus bays at all bus stops in the city, with an aim to reduce traffic congestion at the midst of busy roads.

Current scenario

At present, buses plying along the roads halt on the road carriageway. This creates a jam and causes inconvenience to both commuters as well as motorists. Road side clutters and uncontrolled parking of vehicles along the roadside add to the misery. Commuters are denied from having a proper platform to wait for the buses and are forced to wait on the road, in order to get a proper view of the approaching bus. Many a times, they have to board the bus and alight from it in the middle of the busy road, risking their life.

Even major bus terminals in the city do not have provisions either for the commuters to wait or for bus parking. Since the buses are not parked in an order, the main arterial roads get congested. A number of grave accidents have been reported at these terminals.

Project Plan

A traffic advisory committee meeting was held at the police commissioner office on Monday, during which the need to develop the bus bays was discussed.

There are more than three thousand bus stops in the city. Hence, the project would be carried out in different phases. In the first phase, about 500 bus stops that require bus bays will be identified. At spots where development of a bus bay is not possible, yellow-painted boxes would be installed.

The meeting was presided over by the joint commissioner of police, who informed that the traffic police is asked to suggest locations where bus bays need to be developed. The works are expected to be completed by the year end.

Pay and park scheme

In addition to construction of bus bays, the civic administration also proposed to reintroduce the pay-and-park scheme for two-wheeler on 15 main roads in the city. It was proposed that a minimal amount of Rs.3/- would be levied for two-wheeler parking for the first hour, which would be increased to Rs.5/- for every subsequent hour.

The proposal was tabled before the all the party leaders, during a meeting head at the PMC headquarters. At present, the pay-and-park scheme implemented in the city is applicable for only four-wheeler parked on city roads. Under the current scheme, Rs.10/- is levied, on an hourly basis.

Parking facilities along the central areas in the city are falling short and people are forced to park the vehicles on the road. This leads to congestion and in turn proves to be a threat. Leader of the House in the PMC informed that the proposal would be forwarded to the general body for final decision, before its implementation. He also stated that considering security reasons, the proposal is appropriate.