Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan for Pune-Solapur Highway
Reducing Traffic Congestion Along the Highway Caused by Densely Populated Villages, Busy Marketplaces, Roadside Eateries, and Roundabouts
Traffic Management Plan Rolled Out to Improve Road Safety on Pune-Solapur Highway
As part of a joint endeavor towards better road safety and decongesting traffic bottlenecks, the Maharashtra Highway State Patrol (HSP) jointly with the SaveLIFE Foundation has embarked upon a comprehensive traffic management scheme for the Pune-Solapur highway. Covering a road stretch of around 250 kilometers, the project seeks to find accident-prone spots, study the root causes of accidents, and undertake remedial measures so that travel is easy and safe along this strategic highway.
Authorities have indicated that the plan would mainly target easing traffic congestion, frequently worsened by densely populated villages, marketplaces, road-side restaurants, and a row of roundabouts on the highway.Priority trouble spots responsible for congestion are villages and junctions between Loni Kalbhor and Mohol, particularly in areas such as Uruli Kanchan, Varvand, Patas, Kurkumbh, Rawanwadi, Bhigwan, Dalaj, Tembhurni, Modnimb, and Mohol. These areas will be given priority for decongestion.
HSP Pune division’s superintendent of police Vikrant Deshmukh said, “We have shortlisted accident hotspots on the Pune-Solapur road. The traffic management plan provides a detailed rationale for why accidents take place and for what remedy has to be offered. Action will follow accordingly. With immediate enforcement in the works, coordination already started between highway police and various public and private sector stakeholders. Deshmukh added later that letters and formal communications had been dispatched so that the partnership with local authorities continues to function smoothly.
This strategic plan will definitely ease traffic jams and enhance the overall safety of roads for thousands of daily commuters on the Pune-Solapur highway. Daily commuter Aniket Jadhav from Daund to Pune was expecting quick action, and he added, “The stretch between Patas and Kurkumbh is a nightmare to drive in during peak hours.”. If the authorities go ahead and actually clear the encroachments and widen the roads, it will save us plenty of time and aggravation. I hope they speed up and hold to the plan.
The following plan details a series of important steps with the aim of improving traffic movement and safety:
- Deletion of Encroachments: Unauthorized buildings and stalls on key intersections will be deleted in order to release road space and facilitate free traffic movement.
- Road Widening: The narrow and bottlenecks sections of the highway, particularly sections traversing high-density areas, will be widened.
- Installation of Rumble Strips: Rumble strips will be installed at locations identified for vehicle speed control and safety encouragement, particularly near villages.
- Increased Lighting: Intensive high lighting along strategic junctions and urban highway hubs will be increased to improve visibility and minimize night crashes.
- Directional Boards and Information Planks: Enhance readability direction view directional boards and information planks at pivotal points will be implemented to make commuters more enlightened and minimize disorientation.
- Partnership Work with Local Administrations: Coordination with local administrations for ease of implementation and long-term maintenance of the steps is targeted through the plan.
With these projects, the SaveLIFE Foundation and Maharashtra Highway State Patrol hope to improve the journey for all highway travelers on the Pune-Solapur highway so that it becomes safer and more convenient.
