Pune, 18 February 2026: City is likely to witness a significant improvement in its traffic system by December 2026, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said on Tuesday.
He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by civic officials, police and other government departments will bring visible and positive changes within a year.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for officers and engineers on strengthening the city’s traffic system, Ram said the administration will focus on practical and low-cost measures that can be implemented quickly.
“We are working on short-, medium- and long-term plans to make the city’s traffic system efficient, safe and faster. While some measures will take time, our priority is to execute short-term solutions with proper planning and minimal expenditure,” he said.
The workshop was attended by Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Deputy Mayor Parshuram Wadekar, Leader of Opposition Adv. Nilesh Nikam, House Leader Ganesh Bidkar, Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil, PMC Additional Commissioners and senior officials from various departments.
Ram said that although Pune has grown as a hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), IT and other industries due to its skilled workforce, law and order, and favourable environment, traffic congestion remains a serious concern. “Only about 50 per cent of the traffic on city roads belongs to Pune residents. The rest comes from rural areas and passes through the city, leading to congestion,” he explained.
He noted that large infrastructure projects such as Metro, Ring Road and missing links are underway and expected to ease pressure in the coming years. “Once these projects are completed, possibly by 2030, traffic problems will reduce substantially. However, we cannot wait for that. The solution does not require massive funding but integrated action,” he said.
The Commissioner added that widening of roads, removal of encroachments and illegal hoardings, improving street lighting and repairing feeder boxes, along with ward-wise road improvements, can bring noticeable change by the end of 2026.
Mayor Manjusha Nagpure stressed that citizens should not be made to wait for major infrastructure projects to solve daily traffic issues. “We must act using the resources available today. Even a single ward-level employee working actively can resolve many small problems. Citizens’ suggestions should be considered, and technology can be used to monitor and speed up work,” she said.
Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil highlighted the rapid growth of Pune. “The city has expanded by nearly 300 per cent in the last 30 years. Infrastructure has not grown at the same pace, which has led to traffic challenges. Still, with better traffic management and road resurfacing, we have already seen some improvement. Science and technology can play a major role in solving traffic issues,” he said.
City Engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar presented the current traffic situation through an audio-visual presentation at the workshop.
The civic body now aims to implement coordinated, technology-backed and cost-effective solutions so that by December 2026, Pune residents experience a safer, smoother and faster commute.
