Daily commuters travelling towards Pune railway station, Camp, and District Collector's Office via Juna Bazar are frustrated with slow traffic movement. Commuters say Pune Railway Station suffers from 150 years of neglect.
Despite the rapid increase in Pune's population and daily commuters, the station’s surrounding infrastructure has remained outdated, unplanned, and unfit for the present, let alone the future, added commuters.
Ramdas Sirke, an autorickshaw driver, said, “The roads connecting Pune Railway Station need a revamp. The passengers travelling prefer the station’s main gate entrance, but some prefer the Raja Bahadur Mill Road also, and the traffic is so bad that it seems nearly impossible to cross the stretch in one go. The vehicular movement is high on the Maldhakka Chowk road; the road needs to be widened, considering the increasing traffic. Today we were stranded in heavy traffic for more than 20 minutes at around 1 pm. Imagine the situation at peak times.”
Raj Singh, a social activist, highlighted that every day, thousands of passengers struggle amidst unbearable traffic chaos, a lack of parking, and a complete absence of organised public transport zones. "The roads leading to the station are clogged with autorickshaws, taxis, and private vehicles all fighting for inches of space. There is no proper drop-off or pick-up facility, and emergency access is severely compromised," he said.
“Despite being one of the busiest stations in Maharashtra, Pune Railway Station continues to suffer due to a lack of vision, weak coordination among departments, and a failure of political will. It is high time for the central and state governments, along with local bodies, to wake up and take urgent steps. Pune deserves a world-class, accessible, and commuter-friendly railway terminal, not more excuses,” added Singh.
Commuters have also complained that during the monsoons, water gets accumulated and causes a lot of inconvenience for two-wheeler riders. There is no proper maintenance, and more police officials need to be deployed in that area.
What’s worse is the rampant and unchecked illegal food stalls and hawkers encroaching upon all approach roads. These unauthorised structures not only contribute to congestion but also pose serious safety and hygiene risks. Yet, authorities remain silent.
