Hinjawadi: Hinjawadi Traffic Police have taken matters into their own hands to improve the traffic flow of the ever-growing IT hub of Maharashtra. They have taken on the responsibility of coordinating with multiple governmental bodies and getting infrastructural works done that are hampering the traffic flow. Along with that, they are also registering cases against unruly drivers who disrupt the flow of traffic.
Rahul Sonawane, Senior Police Inspector in charge of the Hinjawadi Traffic Division, said that in the last one month, more than 30 cases have been registered under BNS Sections 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.
These are mostly against heavy vehicles breaking the time-restriction norms set up by Pimpri-Chinchwad Police, wrong-side drivers, rash drivers and signal jumpers - all of whom are not only contributing to an increase in traffic congestion but also endangering their own lives and the lives of others.
Traffic is a huge problem in Hinjawadi, but Sonawane and his team, since the month of July, have regularly followed up with all local governing bodies covering Hinjawadi. This includes the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Public Works Department (PWD), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and local gram panchayats in Hinjawadi, Maan and other areas.
Sonawane also said that where delays in works occur, if it can be done by the traffic police, they solve the matter themselves. They have also been in contact with Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to remove potential disruptions on the roads, hampering traffic.
What work did the traffic police do?
In the past couple of months, Hinjawadi Police have carried out stop line and zebra crossing works at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to maintain traffic and safety, put up tin-shed barricades on the Katraj-Dehu Road Bypass near Bhujbal Chowk to prevent citizens from attempting to cross it and risking their own and drivers’ lives, filled potholes in multiple areas like Surya Underpass, Wipro Circle, IBIS Hotel, Sayaji Hotel Underpass, and other areas, and installed or removed speed breakers according to the needs of traffic. At multiple bus stops, they installed barricades for buses to stop on the side of the road. They have repaired signals at key squares which were either malfunctioning or not working. All of this has been done with the collaboration of local governing agencies.
However, police still claim the work is not even half finished, with more to follow. If all this is implemented effectively, the traffic congestion problem will definitely be solved.
Local residents say they have already noticed small but meaningful improvements. They report that although the traffic problem has not been solved completely, the efforts of the Hinjawadi Traffic Division are visible. Some long-standing issues have been solved, but still, for an area as big as Hinjawadi, loads of improvement are needed.
'Work never happened this fast before'
Dnyanendra Hulsure, President of the Hinjawadi-Maan Employees and Residents Trust (HEART), told The Free Press Journal, “All of the agencies are working together. Our organisation has been demanding the betterment of Hinjawadi for over a decade, but I must say, the works which have happened in the last couple of months have never happened this fast before. Still, there are many things left. We would say we are around 10% there now compared to our vision of Hinjawadi. We have a long way to go and lots of ground to cover, but it's a very promising start with clear intent to make things happen.”
'30% of the work has been completed'
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vivek Patil told The Free Press Journal, “I’m personally in Hinjawadi on alternate days. Whatever is possible for us, we do it. PI Sonawane is in charge there. His team has done numerous things. I will say 30% of the work has been completed according to our vision. With more work, even more results will be on display. We have daily correspondence with the local civic bodies, and we try to make work happen fast, which is hampering the traffic flow.”
'We register cases against offenders'
Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare told The Free Press Journal, “Whenever we receive a complaint from the traffic police, we register a case. It’s not a serious offence, so there are no arrests. We serve them notices, and we file a chargesheet in court. Accordingly, the court fines them.”
