Pune Traffic: A Real Case to Study

To begin with, I want to say that everything has two facets, its positive side as well as a negative one. Pune is not an exception to this. To be honest I was very happy to get transferred to Pune. Pune is called the Oxford of the East. It is the fastest developing city in the world in the last twenty years. Pune has got everything which a developed city should हवे. A Strategic location, Good Employment Opportunities, Big Corporate offices, Plush Malls, Hotels, Multiplexes and Housing Societies. But if something is missing the said list, then it’s surely Transport facility in the city. Actually, there is no mistake of Government in this. Nobody thought that one day Pune will grow like this and all the narrow lanes in the “Peths” (marketplaces) will wreak such havoc for Traffic. And particularly when the city is having the highest number of two-wheelers in the country. But when it comes to traffic control the Traffic Police and the regulatory authorities are very slack. I have never seen any cop following any rider for violating the rules. Also, there is no co-ordination between the Traffic Signals in the city. Even if you go straight on a road the chances of you getting the next signal is almost zero. It means you have to stop on every signal no matter whether you go straight or by turns. This angers the commuters due to which they get impatient resulting in the breach of traffic rules. The IT Revolution has improved the standard of living of an average Punekar. So in each home, there is one four-wheeler along with a substantial number of two-wheelers. The driving habits of the Punekar is the same for two-wheeler as well as a four-wheeler. People in Pune try to ride their four-wheelers from the narrowest road as if it is a bike. This is the reason we can see so many cars blocking the entire road. The Government thought that Fly-Overs will be the solution to this problem. But the Fly-Overs and their construction, in turn, has become another problem. One of the much-hyped celebrated and now infamous fly-overs in Pune, The University flyover has been under construction since the past 2 1/2 years!! So due to such constructions, it takes 5 wholesome minutes (& loads of carbon consumption in the process) for a normal person just to cross a road from one side to the other (University Circle, Pune). And one can see such constructions going on all over the city. Now to tell my personal experiences: 1) My home is in one of the ’so-called’ better areas of Pune - Aundh and is not more than 5 km away from my Office. Just imagine how much time it takes - by Bike - for me to come to the office in rush hour - 10min, 20min, 30min...Nah...its 45min!!! 2) How many traffic signals are there on my way to office from home - 7. 3) I stopped wearing my Fav. white shirt because it got a black-sooty colour after just one drive around the city. 4) One of my friends’ family living in Pune has 5 members - each one with his/her own 2 wheeler. This is because Public transport in Pune is not that good. Thus Pune Traffic is a Real case to study for the Business Schools.