Pune’s Rs 102 Crore Traffic Management System Criticized For Worsening Congestion

Pune, 27th November 2024: Under the Smart City initiative to tackle traffic congestion, a ₹102 crore Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) has been installed at 124 intersections across Pune. However, the system’s fixed signal timings, implemented without a proper traffic study, have drawn sharp criticism from both the public and authorities.

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar recently addressed the issue in a letter to the Municipal Commissioner, highlighting that the new system has exacerbated traffic jams rather than alleviating them. The letter emphasized the growing stress caused to commuters and drivers due to poorly planned signal operations.

The commissioner further requested that no payments be made to the signal installation company without obtaining a “consumer certificate” from the police, as stipulated in the service contract. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the company for failing to submit a comparative traffic study or any analysis of the system’s efficiency.

In June 2024, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ordered that the Smart City-installed traffic management systems in Pune be transferred to the traffic police, as had been done in Mumbai. During a subsequent meeting in July, it was decided that all future payments to the company would require certification from the police to ensure accountability. However, despite these measures, the PMC has been unresponsive.

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar convened a joint meeting in August 2024 with PMC officials and the signal installation company at the Smart City control room on Sinhagad Road to address the inefficiencies. The police requested specific data and adjustments to optimize the system. Yet, the PMC has yet to provide the necessary information, delaying the handover of the system to the police.

The police outlined several key requirements for improving traffic management:

-Real-time data on traffic speed and signal timings across key intersections.
-Coordination with the police to optimize signal timings on major roads like Tilak Road, Senapati Bapat Road, FC Road, Law College Road, Shivaji Road, and Bajirao Road.
-A study of vehicle speeds following changes in signal timings.
-Adjustments in signal offset timing to improve flow between adjacent intersections.
-An analysis of how signal timing impacts traffic flow during peak and off-peak hours.

With the PMC failing to provide the requested data and no significant improvements in traffic conditions, frustration is mounting among both citizens and the authorities. The lack of collaboration between the PMC and the police has further stalled efforts to streamline the traffic system, leaving Pune’s commuters grappling with daily gridlock.

Authorities are now urging immediate action to make the ATMS effective and alleviate the city’s growing traffic woes.