In a bid to address the growing traffic congestion at Mundhwa Chowk, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed the construction of a grade separator at this critical junction. The area sees a large volume of vehicles from the Kharadi Bypass, Ghorpadi-Mundhwa, Keshavnagar, and Magarpatta, resulting in significant traffic snarls. To tackle this, PMC will appoint a consultant to conduct detailed surveys to determine the appropriate alignment for the grade separator. Local traffic police have strongly recommended this step, underscoring the urgent need to relieve daily bottlenecks and ensure smoother vehicular movement.
This initiative comes in response to repeated concerns from commuters about the prolonged traffic delays at the intersection, with vehicles from the Kharadi Bypass and Mundhwa Road bearing the brunt of the congestion. The proposed grade separator is expected to connect roads from Ghorpadi-Mundhwa and Keshavnagar, easing pressure on the junction. PMC’s consultant will evaluate critical technical factors, such as traffic volume, land availability, and vehicular management strategies. Despite PMC’s previous attempts to alleviate congestion through clearing encroachments, the problem persists, prompting this more substantial infrastructural solution.
Sustainability is central to the PMC’s approach. Constructing a grade separator is seen as an efficient solution that reduces the need for excessive traffic signals and vehicle idling, which in turn can lower carbon emissions in the long term. By focusing on better traffic management, the PMC is also contributing to reducing the environmental impact of urban congestion. Furthermore, reusing existing land efficiently, rather than opting for sprawling new developments, highlights PMC’s sustainable urban planning efforts.
This project also brings to the fore broader civic issues, particularly the challenges of rapid urbanisation and its impact on public infrastructure. While additional traffic wardens have been deployed at the site, their efforts can only provide temporary relief. The grade separator, once constructed, will be a more permanent and holistic solution that addresses both the economic and environmental needs of Pune’s growing urban population, ensuring safer and more reliable daily commutes for the city’s residents.
