Citizen’s Voice

These children have to use the Karve Road stretch from Paud phata junction to SNDT junction. There is heavy traffic on this stretch coming from Kothrud and Paud road with a substanial proportion of PMPML,State Transport and company buses.

Further ahead there is cross movement of traffic as lane changing is required for proceeding towards Karve road or Canal road. Presently the road from Paud phata junction to SNDT junction does not have a footpath and cycle track.

The road conditions are hence precarious with cyclists being most vulnerable. Children on bicycles or on foot have to use the carriageway of the road and are not at all safe in the midst of the heavy traffic.

As the density of children and also adult cyclists as well as pedestrians is high,w e have long been demanding a usable footpath and cycle track on the Paud phata – SNDT stretch for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

We had prepared a NMT plan for the area and submitted to PMC in April 2008.

However,we were told by PMC that storm water line is to be laid in the stretch and footpath / cycle track will be provided only thereafter. This work had been inordinately delayed but has since been completed. Though several weeks have passed since the storm water pipes have been laid there is no progress in the matter of providing footpath and cycle track.

Presently traffic from Kothrud and Paud road side is simultaneously allowed to proceed towards SNDT. The traffic density on the Paud phata – SNDT stretch can be reduced by allowing only the Kothrud side or Paud road side traffic at a time. There is sufficient road space available behind Paud phata junction on both Kothrud and Paud road side to hold the traffic volume during the halt at the signal.

The approximate width of Karve road stretch from Paud phata to SNDT junction varies from about 13 metres to 14.30 metres. in a major portion and reduces to about 12 mtr near the SNDT junction. It would be appropriate to distribute the road width as under –

1)Footpath– 1.5 mtr

2)Cycle track– 2.5 mtr (at grade with road and segregated by curb-stones)

3)MV lanes– 8.75 mtr

Total– 12.75 mtr

There could be some variation at different locations depending on the actual road width.

It is to be noted that cycle track from Paud phata junction to SNDT junction is a vital link for connecting Karve road and Paud road cycle tracks to Canal road cycle track and providing a safe path for children cyclists to their schools. Apart from school children,there is also considerable cyclist movement of people mainly from the labour class. Pedestrians also need a safe passage.

We hence request you to immediately provide footpath and cycle track as proposed by us.

Prashant InamdarConvenor
Pedestrians First