Despite the inauguration of two new flyovers on Pune’s Sinhagad Road, residents and commuters continue to grapple with severe traffic congestion, raising questions about the efficacy of these infrastructure projects.
The flyover from Rajaram Bridge to Fun Time Multiplex, operational since May 1, was expected to bypass five major junctions, thereby significantly easing traffic flow. However, it has merely shifted the congestion to the signal under Wadgaon Bridge, where traffic is now getting gridlocked due to inadequate road infrastructure and signal timing issues.Rajesh Jadhav, a resident of Hingne and daily commuter, expressed his disappointment, stating, “We were hopeful that the new flyovers would finally resolve the congestion issue. But what we see now is only partial improvement. The problem has just shifted a few metres down the road.”
Similarly, the flyover over Rajaram Bridge Chowk, inaugurated earlier this year, was intended to streamline the movement of vehicles between Parvati, Sinhagad Road, and Fun Time Chowk. However, it fails to address one of the most pressing issues: vehicles needing to turn right from the flyover towards Erandwane via Rajaram Bridge.Atul Namekar, secretary of the Sinhagad Road-Warje Residents’ Association, highlighted the problem, stating, “The lane dedicated for right-turning vehicles from Sinhagad Road towards Erandwane is severely narrow. During rush hours, vehicles pile up along the stretch, spilling into the main carriageway and obstructing traffic.”Ashwini Kulkarni, a daily commuter and resident of Dattawadi, added, “Even though there is a flyover now, the right turn towards Erandwane is so poorly managed that vehicles get stuck for 15 to 20 minutes just trying to make the turn.”
In response to the growing concerns, Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil visited the site and acknowledged the issues. He stated, “To prevent traffic congestion on the newly constructed Narveer Tanaji Malusare (Sinhagad Road) flyover, we will need to implement some fundamental changes, including modifying the signal timings at the Wadgaon Bridge junction.”During his inspection, Patil also pointed out that a traffic police outpost located under Wadgaon Bridge is obstructing one of the lanes, further worsening the situation. “There are four to five ‘bottlenecks’ in this area which we have brought to the attention of the municipal authorities. We are considering relocating the traffic outpost to ease obstruction,” he added.
The police plan to revise signal timings, increase the number of traffic personnel deployed during peak hours, and remove existing bottlenecks around Wadgaon Bridge to address these concerns.While the new flyovers were intended to alleviate traffic congestion on Sinhagad Road, the persistent issues highlight the need for comprehensive planning and execution in urban infrastructure projects. Without addressing the underlying problems, such as inadequate road infrastructure and poor traffic management, these projects may fall short of their intended objectives.As Pune continues to grow, it is imperative that the Pune Municipal Corporation and traffic authorities adopt a holistic approach to urban planning, ensuring that infrastructure developments are well-integrated and effectively address the city’s evolving transportation needs.
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Sinhagad Road Flyovers Fail to Ease Traffic Woes
