Pune: Residents living in Punawale and Tathawade along the Pune-Bengaluru highway have demanded immediate solutions to the severe traffic congestion plaguing NH48 and the adjoining service roads, keeping them stuck for an extra 1.5 to 2 hours in the daily gridlock.The choked thoroughfares are a routine ordeal for commuters on way to their workplaces or homes.The problem is exacerbated with commuters battling for space in the two underpasses which are the only direct access points to Pimpri Chinchwad areas. Vehicles queue up for kilometres, worsening the situation.On Friday, Punawale resident Sumit Dontulwar missed his train after being stuck in the underpass traffic for nearly 1.5 hours. “I had left home two hours before the train time, but couldn’t traverse the problematic stretch. I lost my ticket fare for no fault of mine,” he said.Tanvi Shaikh, a Kondhwa resident, was caught in road congestion for over an hour near Punawale and Wakad on her way back from Mumbai on Saturday. “It took me over two hours to cover a distance that usually takes only 40 minutes,” she said.Another Punawale resident, Chetan Mapari, said, “I was on a two-wheeler and tried three different routes, but all pathways were choked. It took me over 1.5 hours to cross the highway on Saturday. An ambulance or someone with a health emergency would not know how to get out of the daily bumper-to-bumper jam.”Civic officials acknowledged the situation and attributed it to rapid development in Punawale and Tathawade, leading to a sudden surge in population and traffic. “The existing underpasses are inadequate for the current volume of traffic,” a Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) official said. “The areas solely depend on these underpasses for connectivity with Pimpri Chinchwad, causing severe congestion, especially during rush hours.“Pravin Sharma, a resident of Tathawade, said, “It has not rained for the last three to four days, but the chaos stays. During monsoon, both underpasses get waterlogged, leaving us with no choice but to take highway exits and long detours to reach our destination.”PCMC joint city engineer Bapusaheb Gaikwad said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to begin work on widening the service roads from 12m to 24m. “This should significantly ease the congestion. We have also proposed additional exit points across the highway and recommended traffic changes to the police,” he added.He further said the congestion is primarily an issue during peak hours because of lack of alternatives to cross the highway. The NHAI has proposed an elevated corridor to divert vehicles which don’t need to enter the city, he said.Meanwhile, residents also claimed inadequate traffic management. “There are no traffic wardens or police personnel during peak hours and this worsens the situation. Additionally, the civic body has not maintained connecting roads, slowing down traffic,” said Chetan Bhujbal, a resident.Pimpri Chinchwad police’s deputy commissioner (traffic) Bapu Bangar said conditions have improved compared to last year. “We have made many changes in traffic flow and increased manpower during peak hours. Several more changes are being planned and we hope to further improve the situation. Heavy vehicles are restricted from using service roads during peak hours in the morning and evening,” he said.There has been rapid development in Punawale and Tathawade over the recent years, largely because of its proximity to Hinjewadi IT Park. A significant number of area residents are IT professionals. However, many professionals are choosing to relocate because of persistent traffic congestion, said many dwellers. Resultantly, property owners are struggling to find tenants.
