Khandekar Chowk traffic plan draws flak from civic activists

“At the same time,it cannot be denied that the problem is being faced at Khandekar chowk due to cross traffic from and towards BMCC road. However,we believe that this problem is only during peak hours,” Inamdar said in a letter to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vishwas Pandhare.

During peak hours,said the activists,there was heavy holdup for the Senapati Bapat road traffic at the Bhandarkar road junction signal. “The waiting traffic extends through Khandekar Chowk up to Balbharati and beyond. This congestion is much more severe than what used to happen earlier. Crossing the road at Khandekar Chowk from BMCC road to Senapati Bapat road/Law college road has become impossible,” said Inamdar.

“Most vehicles,however,are seen proceeding up to Khandekar Chowk,turning left to Law College road and then taking a dangerous U-turn at the Bhandarkar road junction,which it appears is allowed by the traffic police,” the letter stated.

Khandekar Chowk traffic plan draws flak from civic activists

With the traffic police proposing to stop vehicles going from Parihar square towards D P Road in Aundh area from taking a right turn at the Sarjaa T-junction on ITI Road,citizens living in the area have questioned the rationale behind the proposal.

In a joint memorandum submitted to the police,Aundh Vikas Mandal,Chaitraban Federation of Societies,Anand Park Residents’ Association and Sanewadi Residents’ Welfare Association have suggested a slew of measures to overcome the issue of traffic congestion at Sarjaa T-junction.

“Since the ITI Road is the only road that connects Aundh area to Baner area and the University square,it sees very heavy traffic for the entire day. If more alternative and parallel roads are developed,there will be no need for the proposed traffic diversion,” reads the memorandum.

It also highlights that the traffic police,in March 2011,had written to the Pune Municipal Corporation to develop such roads as per the Development Plan,but no action has been taken by the civic body yet.

Stating that the proposed diversion would increase the traffic load on narrow internal roads of the purely residential areas of Sanewadi,Anand Park and Gaikwad Nagar,the citizens have raised fears about the safety of children and senior citizens due to the anticipated rise in vehicular traffic outside their homes.

Complaining about the wrongly parked vehicles and encroachments by illegal hawkers,among other menaces,on Anand Park Main Road (Sapatnekar Road)- ITI Road T-junction,the citizens have demanded proper regulation of traffic in this particular area to resolve the issue besides taking complementary measures.