The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed reducing parking spaces on 32 major roads across the city as part of a comprehensive strategy to address mounting traffic congestion. Additional recommendations include stricter enforcement against private buses and the implementation of a weekly 鈥楴o Vehicle Day鈥� in government offices and large companies.
A draft letter outlining these proposals has been sent to the municipal commissioner for approval. Once cleared, it will be forwarded to the Pune city police. However, the civic body has emphasised that effective traffic management is a shared responsibility and not solely the domain of the municipality.
According to a senior official from the PMC鈥檚 road department, the administration has already implemented several measures based on suggestions made by the traffic police last year. 鈥淒iversions have been enforced on key roads such as Nagar Road, Solapur Road, Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar and Koregaon Park, while work is ongoing to remove encroachments, widen roads, and upgrade footpaths,鈥� the official noted.
The draft letter calls on the police to take additional steps under their jurisdiction, including:
1. Stricter action against vehicles parked in 'No Parking' zones
2. Relocating private bus operations outside the city core
3. Increasing fines for parking violations and limiting parking zones
4. Forming mobile squads to tow obstructing vehicles
5. Advocating for a cap on private vehicle registrations in Pune
6. Enhancing pedestrian safety using smart technology
7. Coordinating policies on the installation and removal of speed breakers
With the number of private vehicles in Pune now exceeding 5 million, the PMC believes it is essential to limit new registrations to prevent worsening congestion.
However, the proposal to reduce parking spaces has drawn some internal criticism. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Traffic), Amol Zende, argued that more parking infrastructure is needed, not less. 鈥淭he number of vehicles is growing daily. Instead of reducing parking, the PMC should focus on creating more space,鈥� he said.
For over a year, the PMC and the police have worked together on decongestion strategies, with oversight from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Despite joint efforts, tensions have emerged, with police officials frequently holding the PMC accountable for the city鈥檚 traffic woes.
