Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad police have restricted two-wheelers from entering the Hinjewadi-Wakad flyover from 8am to 11am and again from 5pm to 9pm on a trial basis from Thursday in their bid to reduce traffic congestion in the area.“The two-wheeler riders need to travel approximately 300m extra and use underpasses on each side. We will assess how it works and also seek commuter feedback. If it proves to help in reducing traffic congestion, we will continue with it,” Vivek Patil, DCP traffic, Pimpri Chinchwad police, said.The police said one of the primary causes of traffic congestion on the bridge was the mismatch in width between the approach roads and the bridge. “While the roads leading to the bridge have three lanes, the bridge narrows significantly, allowing passage for only one car and a few two-wheelers, or at most, two cars side by side. If two-wheelers are restricted, it would create enough space for two cars to pass simultaneously, helping to reduce the bottleneck at the entrance of the flyover,” Patil said.The officer said he wrote to the civic administration seeking to remove the debris around the underpass to create more room for vehicles to navigate.IT professionals said while the move might improve traffic flow on the bridge, it could increase congestion on the underpasses used by two-wheeler riders. “I use both two- and four-wheelers. In Hinjewadi, considering the traffic situation, a two-wheeler often seems like the better option. However, the poor road conditions, especially the potholes, make it risky. Those who are concerned about safety and have access to a car usually prefer using a four-wheeler. While the proposed decision might help reduce congestion on the bridge, it could worsen traffic on the service roads leading to the underpass, where two-wheelers will likely cause a new bottleneck,” IT professional Swapnil Sangle said.
