Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Smart City administration are facing criticism over the inefficiency of the Automated Traffic Management System (ATMS) installed at 124 city intersections at a cost of ₹102 crore.
Despite its implementation, the city's traffic congestion problem persists, with no significant improvement in vehicle flow. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar recently wrote to the Pune Municipal Commissioner expressing dissatisfaction with the system and its management.
Signal Timing Issues
The ATMS, introduced with much fanfare, has fixed signal timings that were set without any prior traffic flow analysis. This oversight has led to an increase in congestion, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
The Commissioner’s letter pointed out that payments to the implementing company should be withheld until the police issue a user certificate confirming the system’s functionality.
Police Demands Unaddressed
In August 2024, a meeting was held at the Smart City control room on Sinhagad Road between the police, PMC officials, and the company responsible for implementing the system.
The police requested crucial data to effectively manage the system, including:
Vehicle speed studies during peak and non-peak hours on roads with signals.
Collaboration with the police on signal timing adjustments for key roads like Tilak Road, Senapati Bapat Road, and FC Road.
Impact studies of signal timing changes on traffic flow and vehicle speed.
Offset timing adjustments for signals in close proximity.
Despite repeated requests, the PMC has yet to provide this information, prompting the police to refuse to take control of the system.
Administrative Challenges
The system’s control transfer was mandated by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar during a June 2024 meeting, and a decision was later taken to make payments contingent on the police's user certificate.
However, the Municipal Corporation’s failure to address traffic management studies and the lack of coordination have delayed the transfer process.
