Educationalist Dr Vidya Yeravdekar talks about the warmth and uniqueness of Pune. While traffic is a sore point for the city, Pune, Dr Yeravdekar said, has many positives making it different from other cities. Dr Yeravdekar spoke to The Indian Express about the city and what makes it special. What do you like about Pune? My answer would be its people - they have their identity, making them special. A typical Punekar stands out for their staunch belief and warmth, which stems from the city’s culture. People here take time to believe in a concept or people before they trust it. Once they are convinced, they go with the same 100 per cent. Pune has its own discipline - it comes from its beliefs and culture. Pune stands out in the world. What would you want to change about the city? Traffic is something which indeed is a sore point for the city. Travelling to a remote place like Lavale, one would assume traffic would be less; however, the endless traffic snarls defy logic. People are in a hurry, and thus, they are always trying to pull a fast one and disregard the rules. Even Mumbai’s traffic is better than Pune's. What do you think can be done to change this? Self-discipline and self-policing are the keys to escaping Pune's traffic mess. If drivers decide for themselves to follow the basic traffic rules, it would make a huge difference to the city. We should take it upon ourselves to follow traffic rules and be disciplined on the road.
