Pune, 29th August 2026: Pune is set to get another traffic plan after 23 plans prepared over nearly four decades failed to provide a lasting solution to the city's congestion problems. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has now appointed a consultant to prepare a comprehensive mobility plan covering the entire city.
Between 1981 and 2009, the PMC prepared 23 traffic-related plans covering different aspects of urban mobility. These included:
A network of cycle routes in 1981
A long-distance traffic plan in 1994
A parking plan in 1996
A feasibility study for flyovers in 1998
A study on coordination between PMT and PCMT in 2000
A Sky Bus Metro project report in 2004
A study to integrate the transport systems of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad
A detailed traffic plan in 2008
A detailed Metro project report in 2009
Several smaller studies and plans were also prepared during this period.
Of the various plans, the Metro plan eventually translated into a major infrastructure project. However, several other proposals, including cycle routes, parking facilities, flyovers and integrated transport planning, did not achieve the expected results.
As a result, Pune has continued to face traffic congestion despite repeated planning exercises over the years.
The PMC, through the Pune Urban Mobility Cell, has appointed a consultant to conduct a scientific and comprehensive study of the city's transport system. The study will continue for three years and will use real-time traffic data to identify problems and recommend improvements.
The consultant will be paid around Rs 2.37 crore per year.
The new study will look at the city's mobility system as a whole rather than studying individual transport components separately. It will cover:
Roads and public transport
Private vehicles and cycling
Pedestrian movement
Parking facilities
Traffic signals
Accident-prone locations
Potholes and road conditions
Unauthorised road digging
Flyovers and grade separators
HCMTR and tunnels
Metro and other major transport infrastructure
The PMC plans to combine data from TomTom, telecom companies, CCTV networks, the Pune Urban App and GPS systems used by public transport services.
Officials said combining information from these sources will provide a clearer picture of traffic movement and help identify areas requiring intervention.
“Earlier traffic plans considered different components separately. The new study will use real-time data and take an integrated view of roads, flyovers, grade separators, HCMTR, tunnels and Metro services. There will also be coordination among different agencies,” said Rajesh Bankar, Chief Engineer, Roads Department, PMC.
