Day one of one-way traffic evokes mixed response

One-way traffic system has been implemented on the JM Road-FC road circular route on experimental basis for 15 days. Top traffic police officers and PMC officers took a review of the one-way traffic on Friday.

“Earlier,the average speed of vehicles on this circular route was about 15 km/hr. Now,with the implementation of one-way,we found that average speed of vehicles has doubled to 30 km/hr. We want to restrict the speed to 25 km/hr to avoid accident,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) Manoj Patil.

“We have decided to stick 2-cm thick rumbling strips every 400 metres on the two-kilometre stretch. The rumbling strips are meant to slow down the vehicles,” Patil said.

PMC Commissioner Mahesh Zagade said that he ordered his staff to put up the strips on the one-way route as per the norms of Indian Road Congress. “Speed control is essential on one-way traffic routes. We don’t want the one-way traffic system to become a disadvantage for people,” Zagade said.

Patil said one-way traffic received mixed response on day one. “There was some confusion among the citizens initially in the morning which caused a jam in Model Colony area from 8 am to 10 am,” he said. “There were 125 traffic cops on the circular route to guide citizens,” Patil said.

However,for those travelling by bus,the one-way traffic proved inconvenient as buses were diverted on different routes.

Patil said that issue has been discussed with Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) authorities. “PMPML staff has also reviewed the situation. Some bus stops would be shifted for the convenience of citizens,” Patil said.

“Two pedestrian signals have been installed on JM Road. One more will be installed soon at Tukaram Paduka chowk on FC Road,” he said.

The traffic police have invited suggestions and complaints about the changes. “The final order about the one-way traffic on the route will be taken after considering the suggestions and complaints,” Patil said.

While citizens and local residents appreciated the one-way traffic system,hoteliers and traders on the route were unhappy as they lost business to some extent.

Sudam Choure,a resident of Apte Road said,“The police should concentrate on traffic management and parking system on these lanes.”

Patil agreed that some people were using the internal roads passing through residential areas to avoid traffic signals. “Now that main roads are getting decongested due to one-way traffic,we appeal people to avoid using internal,” he said.

Santonsh Mamdyal,a motorcyclist,who has been using the stretch regularly,said,“I have never seen JM Road-FC road route so decongested during peak hours of traffic.”

Ulhas Shanbagh,manager of Niranjan hotel on FC Road,said his business has gone down by about 50 per cent due to the one-way traffic system. “The number of customers on Friday was half of that on Thursday,” he said.