Pune Traffic Woes Addressed: PMC Launches Dedicated Planning Department

Pune, 27th February 2025: In a bid to tackle the city’s growing traffic congestion, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has established a dedicated Traffic Planning Department under the Central Government’s National Urban Transport Policy. The move follows the recent formation of a City Traffic Improvement Committee, chaired by the Additional Police Commissioner, to address traffic-related issues.

Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale has approved the formation of the department, which will work in coordination with the police administration, oversee public transport projects, and regulate traffic management initiatives. Eight officials have been appointed to handle various responsibilities within the department.

The newly formed department will focus exclusively on traffic-related concerns, unlike the previously established Projects and Transport Planning Department, which was deemed ineffective. Chief Engineer (Roads) Aniruddha Pawaskar has been appointed as the head of the department, along with two executive engineers, one deputy engineer, four junior engineers, and Nikhil Mijar as a traffic planner.

The department will be responsible for:
– Coordinating with the police administration on traffic rules and regulations.
– Implementing projects such as sidewalks, cycle tracks, subways, flyovers, grade separators, Metro, Light Rail Transit (LRT), High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR), and Neo Metro on roads 24 meters wide and above.
– Collaborating with various agencies, including the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Public Works Department (PWD), Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), and MahaMetro.
– Developing and enhancing infrastructure to support an efficient public transport system.
– Addressing transport-related challenges, formulating policies, and implementing necessary measures to streamline urban mobility.