JEE Aspirants Face Traffic Nightmares in Pune, Local Authorities Respond
The Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Mains is a critical milestone for thousands of aspiring engineers across India, but for students appearing in Pune, the journey to their exam centre at Ion Digital Zone in Ramtekdi has been anything but smooth. The exam centre, situated around 1.5 km off the Pune-Solapur Highway, has been marred by heavy traffic congestion, particularly on the narrow roads leading to it. The situation has been so dire that several students have found themselves walking long distances to reach the venue on time, further adding to the stress of an already high-stakes examination.
The JEE Mains Paper 1 (BE/BTech) is being conducted over multiple days, with the last exam scheduled for Wednesday. The two shifts of exams, held in the morning and afternoon, see thousands of students arriving at the exam centre, which is located in the industrial area of Ramtekdi. The main access road to the centre cuts through the JCC Colony slum, an area notorious for narrow roads that are further clogged by the sheer volume of vehicles. Private vehicles dropping off exam candidates have caused bumper-to-bumper traffic jams, exacerbating the situation.
Struggling Aspirants Share Their Frustrations
As the traffic snarls reached a boiling point, several students and their families found themselves grappling with delays and added stress on the day of the exam. One aspirant from Solapur, who was stuck in traffic, said, “I walked nearly a kilometre from Ramtekdi Road to reach the centre because of the heavy traffic.” Another student, Pratyusha Naik, shared a similar experience, stating, “Due to the traffic, my parents had to park the car away from the centre, and we had to walk around 500-600 metres to reach the venue.”
Parents too expressed frustration. Vijay Pawar, who was dropping a relative for the exam, described being stuck in traffic for 30 to 45 minutes, adding, “After that, I had to park my vehicle and walk to the centre. They should block other vehicles when the exam is on.” This points to a larger concern about traffic management, particularly during such high-stakes events where the pressure on students is already immense.
PMC and Traffic Authorities Seek to Address Issues
While the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is responsible for conducting the JEE exam, remained focused on ensuring a smooth exam process, the issue of traffic management fell outside their jurisdiction. A spokesperson from the NTA at the venue commented, “Traffic is not our concern. We are responsible for the error-free and smooth conduct of the examination. Like everyone else, we are facing the increased traffic problem.” However, local authorities have taken note of the situation. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amol Zende informed The Indian Express that additional traffic personnel would be deployed on the final day of Paper 1 and during the upcoming Paper 2 to ensure better traffic flow.
This proactive approach by the traffic police aims to alleviate the traffic bottlenecks near the exam centre. However, with the growing number of students and vehicles, the need for a long-term solution that focuses on infrastructure improvements in the area is becoming more urgent.
Sustainability and Urban Planning Considerations
From a broader perspective, the traffic woes experienced by JEE candidates highlight the challenges faced by rapidly urbanising areas like Ramtekdi. Narrow roads and poor traffic management are not just issues during the exam period, but persistent problems for the local community. There is an urgent need for the local municipal authorities to address these infrastructural challenges in a sustainable manner.
Investing in better urban planning and improving road infrastructure would not only ease the burden on students during major exams but also contribute to the overall quality of life for residents of the area. Sustainable urban development involves not just expanding infrastructure but ensuring it is equipped to handle the increased traffic and population density. This means better roads, efficient public transport options, and proper traffic management during peak times, all of which can reduce stress for both exam candidates and the general populace.
