Pune: PMPML’s Bus Shelter Project Delayed, Traffic Police Propose Relocation of 27 Stops to Ease Congestion

Pune, 19th December 2024: The long-awaited plan to install bus shelters across Pune is facing significant delays, with the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) having completed only 100 of the 300 shelters initially promised. Currently, out of the city’s 4,000 bus stops, approximately 3,000 still lack basic shelter facilities.

PMPML officials acknowledged the challenges in setting up shelters at every bus stop. “We understand that not every bus stop can have a shelter due to space constraints and other logistical issues,” said an official from PMPML. “However, we are prioritizing areas with high passenger traffic. For the stops with lower footfall, we are considering relocating existing shelters to more crowded locations.”

PMPML has floated a tender for the construction of 200 more shelters, with plans to complete the project by mid-2025. “We are still in the process of opening the tenders, but as soon as we award the work order, we will proceed without delays,” said Dattatray Zende, Chief Transport Manager (Commercial) of PMPML. “Although the initial deadline was set for August 2024, there were some setbacks. We are confident the remaining work will be completed on time next year,” added another official from PMPML.

Traffic Police Propose to Shift 27 Bus Stops to Ease Congestion
In another development, Pune’s traffic police have proposed relocating 27 PMPML bus stops to reduce traffic jams and improve road safety. The proposal comes after a comprehensive traffic study conducted in November revealed that several bus stops are contributing to traffic congestion, especially near key junctions.

“We’ve identified 27 bus stops that are either directly causing traffic jams or have the potential to create serious accidents,” said Manoj Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police. “These bus stops are located on busy roads like Karve Road, Paud Road, Ganeshkhind Road, Shivaji Road, and Pune-Solapur Road.”

The proposal focuses on stops that are within 50 meters of signal junctions, which, according to the study, disrupt the flow of traffic when buses halt. “Buses stopping at these locations block critical lanes and affect the movement of other vehicles, leading to significant delays, especially during peak hours,” Patil explained.

Some of the bus stops identified for relocation are located near Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk (near Juna Bazaar), as well as on Karve Road and Pune-Solapur Road, where they obstruct traffic after the flyover ends.

The traffic police have already shared their findings with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and PMPML, and are working closely with these agencies to implement the changes. “We have prepared a plan and are actively discussing it with the concerned authorities to ensure the changes are made swiftly,” Patil added.