‘Surgical Strike’ Against Traffic Chaos in Wagholi: Pune Police Lay Out Plan

Wagholi, 29th January 2025: A surprise inspection of the Wagheshwar Chowk to Kesnand Junction stretch in Wagholi on Tuesday noon left Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar deeply concerned about traffic mismanagement, poor road conditions, and rampant rule violations.

During his visit, Kumar observed reckless driving, illegal roadside encroachments, construction debris on dividers, and a lack of traffic discipline, particularly on the Kharadi Bypass-Wagholi corridor. He assured residents that immediate steps would be taken to address the situation.

Speaking at a meeting with local residents, crusher associations, and private bus operators, Kumar announced a joint enforcement drive with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and other agencies.

“A surgical strike will be carried out against wrong-side driving, triple-seat riding, overloading in autorickshaws, and illegal vendors occupying road space. The deadline for visible improvements is February 10,” Kumar stated firmly.

Accompanied by senior police officials, Shirur MLA Dnyaneshwar Katke, PMC chief engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar, and PMRDA representatives, Kumar instructed authorities to fix potholes, remove traffic obstructions, and ensure better traffic flow within two weeks.

Local residents raised several long-standing grievances, highlighting the need for infrastructure upgrades and better enforcement of traffic rules.

MLA Dnyaneshwar Katke acknowledged the issues and said he had raised them during the Winter Session of the Assembly. “Wagholi is a crucial corridor connecting Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and other districts. We will collaborate with the police, RTO, PMC, PWD, and PMRDA to bring about significant improvements within the next two weeks,” Katke assured.

Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region) Manoj Patil presented data highlighting the volume of traffic in the area. “Nearly two lakh vehicles cross Wagholi junction daily, far beyond the road’s capacity. We have identified three alternate routes to reduce congestion,” he said.

Taking swift action, Commissioner Kumar instructed the RTO to crack down on private buses halting at undesignated spots. He also ordered MSEDCL to remove obstructive electric poles immediately.

“We take full responsibility for improving the traffic situation,” Kumar asserted. “Immediate enforcement measures will be implemented, followed by long-term solutions in a phased manner.”

With authorities setting February 10 as the deadline, residents now await tangible improvements in Wagholi’s traffic situation.