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Katraj-Swargate Road audit spots loopholes

The ongoing construction of flyovers and subways combined with lack of road safety measures for pedestrians and motorists and overall traffic indiscipline have made the 6 km Katraj-Swargate road prone to accidents.

The findings were part of the safety audit report submitted to the Pune Municipal Corporation after an accident near Bibvewadi on March 19 in which a motorists died on the spot. The contractors have now been asked to enforce all road safety measures, which includes adequate direction indicator barricading, directional signages, warning signs, arrow boards, portable traffic signals, priority signs, flashing warning beacons and hazard markers.

The report has suggested that separate traffic control personnel and flagmen with retro reflective vests be deployed round-the-clock at construction sites. The study questioned the level of self-discipline amongst road users. "Two-wheeler riders wade through four-wheelers, often overtaking them from the left side, which results in accidents. The tendency to adhere to traffic signals, speed limit restrictions and prohibition into BRTS lanes is meager," said the report.

On March 19, a 26-year-old man on a motorcycle was run over by a cement mixer truck near Pushpa Mangal chowk on the Pune-Satara road.

A day later, corporators raised concerns about lack of road safety measures between Katraj and Swargate on the Pune-Satara road. The report highlights inadequate and unsafe pedestrian facilities, especially near construction sites. Road markings for traffic delineation are absent or below the acceptable level. The report said there is significant lack of enforcement on footpath and cycle track encroachments and parking. While there is inadequate traffic signal system at smaller openings on the BRTS corridor, the access to most of bus stops is poorly maintained.

The safety audit was conducted by Creations Engineers Pvt Ltd and Pavetech Consulting Engineering Services Pvt Ltd. Senior officials of the traffic planning department of the PMC could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Source-On Request