Pune, 12th June 2025: The 'Ease of Traffic' experiment implemented on the Pune-Solapur highway and Magarpatta-Kharadi bypass has solve traffic problem, but no consideration was given to pedestrians while implementing this experiment. The effort they have to make to cross the road is becoming life-threatening. Citizens are expressing displeasure over this insensitivity shown towards pedestrians by the Traffic Municipal Corporation Road Department.
A flyover was built at Magarpatta Chowk many years ago to avoid congestion at this intersection and to facilitate local citizens. Still, the traffic police and the municipal corporation have prioritized fast traffic at the intersection, ignoring the convenience of citizens. The intersection should be vacated until proper facilities are provided for pedestrians; otherwise, a protest will be held.
Kumar Tupe, Citizen, Magarpatta
To ease the traffic congestion on the Solapur Highway in Hadapsar area, the traffic police have closed the intersection under the Magarpatta flyover and started uncontrolled direct traffic. Due to this, the residents of the intersection have to take a detour of about two and a half kilometers every time they travel by vehicle.
Also, pedestrians have to do a life-threatening exercise of dodging oncoming vehicles while crossing the road. Citizens of the Samrat Garden area near the Magarpatta flyover have to turn directly from Shankar Math intersection while going towards Kharadi Bypass, while citizens of the Noble Hospital area have to turn from Hadapsar village while going to the city.
The bus stop at Magarpatta Chowk has been moved in front of Nobel Hospital, forcing commuters to walk a long distance. Pedestrians coming and going from the nearby Chowk have to cross the Chowk with high danger, which has created a risk of accidents. Employees in Magarpatta and Amanora areas have to struggle to reach public vehicles.
Closing the Chowk here has only benefited the traffic on the highway, so citizens like Sudhir Methekar, Sonal Kodre, Sandeep Ghule, Ashish Gaikwad, Ashok Kale and residents of societies like Samrat Garden, Amar Jyoti, Surya Loknagari, Siddhivinayak have demanded that the barriers at the Chowk be removed and the Chowk be opened.
Due to the closure of the intersection, the speed has increased from Ravi Darshan Chowk to Fatimanagar. The speed that was previously 29 kilometers per hour due to continuous and straight traffic has now increased to 34 kilometers per hour due to this experiment. A letter has been given to the road department to make 'Raised Pedestrian' for pedestrians. A 20-second signal will also be given for the convenience of pedestrians.
Dhananjay Pingle, Senior Traffic Police Inspector, Hadapsar
The traffic police have discussed the installation of 'Raised Pedestrian'. If they and the citizens make a written demand, it can be approved and work can be done. Currently, since the palanquin and monsoon repair works are underway, it cannot be done immediately.
Anil Sonawane, Executive Engineer, Municipal Road Department
