Pune: The civic body and the traffic police are planning to set up traffic diversions to assist the grade separator work at Shastrinagar Chowk on Nagar Road. The changes in the vehicular flow will be implemented in phases.The grade separator will eliminate the halting of vehicles at the junction and is expected to reduce chaos.Some traffic restrictions were implemented on an experimental basis at the chowk recently, which led to traffic snarls and prompted the authorities to prepare an alternate plan. Traffic police department officials said the team is working on various aspects to ensure that commuters face minimal hardships.Regular commuters, however, said the authorities should not implement traffic diversions in a haphazard manner.Amit Sathe, a regular traveller on Nagar Road, said, “The grade separator work has occupied some portion of a lane towards Yerawada. The traffic police need to work out an alternate road or diversion that helps maintain traffic flow.”Vikas Shinde, another commuter,said the authorities should not close the entire junction for vehicles. “We advise the administration to implement traffic changes in phases and keep maximum road space for vehicles. The administration can plan for a U-turn instead of complete closure.”“Parking of vehicles should be banned on the stretches where works are under way so that vehicular movement on the main carriageway is not affected,” said a resident of the area.Meanwhile, local MLA Bapu Pathare on Friday inspected the traffic flow on Nagar Road and suggested various steps to provide safer passage for pedestrians.Citizens have been complaining about the lack of safety measures, especially for pedestrians, as authorities have closed theroad medianson the entire stretch from Shastrinagar up to Kharadi.
