Pune Municipal Corporation Takes Action to Ease Traffic Congestion at Juna Bazar

Pune, 1st January 2024: In a bid to alleviate the recurring traffic congestion caused by the historic Juna Bazar at Mangalwar Peth in Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is taking decisive action against encroachments in the market area. The market, which takes place every Wednesday and Sunday, often results in traffic jams due to vendors setting up their shops on the road. To address this issue, the PMC is planning to open the road for traffic and create a planning map for market vendors.

As part of their efforts to ease traffic congestion in the new year, the PMC is actively working on various measures. Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk, situated on Veer Santaji Ghorpade Road, is a well-known marketplace. Presently, two lanes of the road are designated for traffic, allowing shopkeepers to conduct their business. However, the additional setting up of shops on the second lane contributes to increased traffic congestion. To address this, the PMC has appealed to market vendors to cooperate and communicate for a solution.

The PMC plans to submit a planning map for the vendors, detailing arrangements for the market meeting. Once the arrangements are finalized, the existing two lanes will be expanded, and an additional lane will be opened for traffic. This move aims to provide relief to citizens and motorists facing congestion during market days.

In the past 15 days, PMC officials, including Additional Commissioner Vikas Dhakne, Chief Engineer (Road) Aniruddha Pawaskar, and Superintending Engineer Sahebrao Dandge, conducted inspections on the road. Following the inspections, a decision was made to remove encroachments on the road, focusing on freeing citizens from traffic jams during the Juna Bazar events. Strict measures will be taken to discipline shopkeepers occupying streets.

Mangalwar Peth is renowned for its historical market, and more than 350 professionals conduct business in the Juna Bazar. The market has been a long tradition, causing citizens distress due to traffic congestion. The PMC’s current efforts are seen as a positive step toward finding a solution to the persistent problem.

Senior officials from PMC and representatives from the road department, encroachment department, and other relevant departments inspected the Juna Bazar road. Removing encroachments and the subsequent opening of the road for traffic are expected to provide a much-needed respite for citizens in the coming year.

Madhav Jagtap, Deputy Commissioner of Anti-Encroachment Department, PMC, expressed optimism about the positive impact of these measures on alleviating traffic issues.