Pune University Chowk: A junction you don’t want to pass through, especially on foot

Pedestrians struggling to cross the road at Pune University Chowk. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

Vinay Kale, a second-year student at Savitribai Phule Pune University, said, “This is an everyday problem. First, there is no zebra crossing on the other side of the Pune University Road and there is no space to stand in the middle. Secondly, you have to keep waiting for long periods of time as the traffic is always going from one or the other direction.”

When the traffic from Ganeshkhind Road is halted, that from Baner Road is released. Some pedestrians try crossing the road when traffic from Pune University Road to the varsity’s entrance is released but often get blocked by vehicles making U-turns. “There is a 10-second window for pedestrians to cross the road but it is too short,” said Simran Khalse, an 18-year-old student at the university.

“It is also not very safe because sometimes, lone bikers or some vehicles just break the signal and zoom past in speed,” she added.

On the other side, with no traffic light or zebra crossing, there is continuous traffic flow from Pune University Road to Pashan Road. Students of Modern High School and Junior College as well as Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Ganeshkhind huddle together, hold hands, and measure every step to cross the road.

With no traffic light or zebra crossing, there is continuous traffic flow from Pune University Road to Pashan Road. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

“There is no point in waiting because the traffic won’t stop, you just have to take a leap of faith and jump into the fray,” said Harshali Nigam, a third-year student of Modern College. “It is scary so we try not to cross the roads alone. Moreover, even if you have crossed this part, there is another (Baner) road and then the University Road which is the only one with a zebra crossing,” she added.

In 2020, the two old flyovers – one at the Pune University junction and one in front of the E-Square theatre – were demolished after the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) jointly decided to construct a two-storey flyover with the top floor for an elevated metro rail corridor to connect Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar and the first floor for vehicular traffic. Work is underway at this junction to construct the double-storey flyover including the metro line along with grade separators and an underpass. According to a primary estimate by the traffic police, anywhere from 2.8 to three lakh vehicles pass through this junction every day on average.

“The Pune University Chowk is certainly a big challenge for pedestrians. Especially, with the current ongoing construction projects and continuous flow of traffic. At any given point, two traffic police officers, two traffic constables, and 12 wardens are deployed at the chowk. Several times during the day, our staff literally escorts groups of pedestrians – especially students, the elderly, and those who need aid – to cross the chowk. The signal timings are insufficient and zebra crossing markings have faded in many places. Due to construction work, roadside pavements… have been removed,” said Inspector S S Pathan of Chaturshrungi Traffic Division.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vijaykumar Magar said, “There have been multiple communications with the officials concerned from the PMC and the Smart City Project for the signal timings and zebra crossings. We are yet to see any action. After the construction work on the integrated project began towards the end of 2021, the Pune city traffic police implemented a circular traffic flow model for University Square from December 2021. The one-way circular traffic flow traces the route of University Square, Pashan Road, Pune Rural SP Office, Abhimanshree Pashan Chowk, Abhimanshree Baner Chowk, Baner Road, Sakal Nagar and again back to University Square. While a section of the commuters do have to travel a slightly higher distance due to the circular traffic route, the arrangement acts as a small respite for commuters by bringing down the signal waiting period and thus reducing snarls. But as the space occupied by the construction went on increasing, the problems for commuters rose exponentially.”

Autorickshaw driver Gurudev Punekar is fed up with the construction work and poorly managed crossing. He said, “If a passenger asks me to stop, I can only stop after about 200 m or more because there is no space on the side and the traffic is constant. The few seconds one would stop to enquire with a passenger means endless and impatient honking. Several times if a passenger heralds from the other side of the road, I have to skip those rides because it will take so long for them to cross.”

Mangala Adhmane, 45, road sanitation worker for the Pune Municipal Corporation, finds it impossible to cross the roads she helps maintain. “There is so much traffic, it never stops. It is impossible for us to cross or even stand on the road as someone or the other will always be honking at you,” she said.

DCP Magar said, “When the full stretch of the Pune Metro becomes operational, it is expected to reduce traffic significantly. Once the work on the metro project is over, more spaces for pedestrians will also be available. It is pertinent to note that the example of Pune University Square highlights the dire need of a multi-agency approach to look at the traffic issues.”

Harshad Abhyankar, Director of Save Pune Traffic Movement, said virtually all roads in Pune flout Indian Road Congress mandates. “On roads, where construction for a metro or flyover, etc. is going on, the first axe falls on pedestrian facilities. Footpaths are chopped off, signals are either non-existent or do not provide enough time for pedestrians, and barricades ensure that you need to walk much, much longer to find a place to cross the road. The University Junction, in fact the entire under-construction metro corridor, is a typical example.”