Pune’s traffic study has moved beyond discussion, with IIM Mumbai holding a preliminary meeting with officials from multiple departments to examine the city’s transport system and recommend long-term solutions, Pune MP and Union minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on Thursday. The proposed study comes as registered vehicles and congestion continue to rise across the Pune metropolitan region.
Mohol said he approached IIM Mumbai to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Pune’s traffic system and transport infrastructure, and that the institute responded positively. Professors and subject experts from the institute met officials from various departments in Pune, marking the first step towards identifying infrastructure gaps and developing what Mohol described as long-term, scientific solutions.
According to figures cited by Mohol, the Pune metropolitan region has a population of approximately one crore and is projected to reach two crore over the next three decades. The number of registered vehicles in the city has risen from around 52 lakh in 2018 to approximately 82 lakh in 2026. More than 1,300 new vehicles are being added every day, intensifying pressure on the city’s road network.
The proposed assessment is expected to take a citywide view rather than focus only on individual congestion points. It will examine major arterial roads, traffic bottlenecks, signalling systems, public transport, the Metro network and the proposed ring road. The study will also look at how existing infrastructure can be used more effectively while planning for future transport requirements.
Implementation will require coordination among the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, Maha Metro, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd, the Regional Transport Office and traffic police. These agencies are responsible for different parts of the city’s mobility system, including roads, regional planning, public bus services, Metro operations, vehicle regulation and traffic management.
The proposed institutional coordination is significant because congestion in Pune is not limited to a single road or transport mode. The infrastructure listed for examination spans municipal roads, regional connections, public transport and traffic operations. The study’s stated purpose is to bring these components into a common assessment instead of relying only on isolated measures at individual bottlenecks.
Mohol said traffic congestion was affecting the daily lives of citizens and argued that Pune’s expansion and rising vehicle numbers required long-term planning rather than temporary, stop-gap measures. He said the goal was to improve coordination among agencies and make commuting safer, more convenient and more efficient for residents.
The departments concerned will be able to take further action based on the study’s recommendations. The information released so far does not specify the study’s completion date, its funding arrangement, the methodology to be used or whether all participating agencies have formally committed to implementing its recommendations. The next stage will depend on the detailed scope prepared by IIM Mumbai and the findings submitted to the relevant authorities.
