The signal-free initiative on Nagar Road has sparked protests over unsafe U-turns and neglected pedestrian crossings. Residents demand better planning to restore safety and ease congestion worsened by the partial removal of the Bus Rapid Transit corridor.
The signal-free experiment on Nagar Road, aimed at easing traffic congestion, has instead sown chaos for Pune’s residents. By deactivating eight traffic signals, the traffic department hoped to speed up vehicle flow, claiming a 15-minute reduction in travel time. Yet, for pedestrians—senior citizens, schoolchildren, women, and office-goers—the initiative has turned a simple road crossing into a perilous ordeal. Without zebra crossings, wardens, or safe pathways, people risk their lives dodging speeding vehicles at junctions like Shastrinagar Chowk, Viman Nagar, and Kharadi’s old octroi post.
The introduction of U-turns at key points, meant to streamline traffic, has backfired. Residents report severe congestion, with some spending over 30 minutes navigating short stretches like Ramwadi to Shastrinagar Chowk.The community’s frustration is palpable, as banners at U-turn points question the traffic department’s planning, reflecting a sense of abandonment in a city they call home.
Compounding the issue is the incomplete removal of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, long criticized for causing accidents and congestion.Activists argue that fully removing the BRT could ease congestion, but partial measures have left the corridor’s hazards intact. The community feels their years of protests against the BRT were only half-heeded, leaving them with wider roads but persistent bottlenecks.
Residents lament the lack of consultation before implementing the signal-free scheme. The closure of junctions like Aga Khan Palace and Chandan Nagar bypass, coupled with enforced U-turns, has disrupted daily routines without addressing pedestrian needs. Underpasses exist, but they’re often inaccessible or poorly maintained, forcing people to cross at-grade amidst speeding traffic. The traffic department’s claim of a 20-second pedestrian signal feels inadequate to those navigating a 60-meter-wide road.
The human toll is clear: parents worry for children walking to school, seniors avoid crossing altogether, and commuters endure stressful delays. Yet, hope persists. Residents are calling for collaboration between the PMC and traffic police to prioritize pedestrian safety with proper crossings, signage, and traffic calming measures. They envision a Nagar Road where vehicles and people coexist, where ambulances glide through, and where crossing the street doesn’t feel like a gamble. For now, Pune’s citizens wait, their banners a quiet plea for a safer, more inclusive city.
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