Ahmednagar Road listed in extremely critical category

Ahmednagar Road listed in extremely critical category

Pune: A Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) road safety survey has put Ahmednagar Road in ‘extremely critical’ category based on the risk level which is judged by the fatal accident rate. Out of 2,100 kilometre total road network within the corporation area, the PMC has identified 1,000 km road network with road width more than nine metres witnessing heavy traffic. In first phase of road survey of 200 kilometres, the civic body has given priority to this road.

Parameters of survey
The survey took into consideration various parameters like road infrastructure and alignment, median shoulder, footpath, cycle track, pedestrian crossing, land use, auto/bus stand, parking, encroachment and light quality, accessibility and treatment for sensitive zones.

As per the data received from the traffic department, the number of fatal accidents on Nagar road were 20 in last two years.

While speaking to Sakal Times, Aniruddha Pawaskar, Chief Superintendent of road department, said, “Under the survey of 67 roads - 18 have been given priority in the study. Ahmednagar Road stood No.1 in the rank. Pune is the first corporation to conduct survey for road safety. Normally, such a study is conducted on State and National Highways.” 

Improvement plan
The consultant has made following observations: Unsafe merging and diverging movements of vehicles, improper land discipline and driver behaviour, lack of proper road marking and signs, encroachment along the roads, reckless driving, absence of inadequate pedestrian and bicycle facilities. 

In the report, it has suggested multi-agency approach for successful implementation of road safety improvement plan, The formation of a safety cell has also been suggested. The short term recommendations are the ones that can be implemented by improving physical infrastructure. 

Survey Findings (risk level based on fatal accidents) 
- Extremely Critical: Ahmednagar Rd
- Very Critical: Hadapsar-Saswad Road, Magarpatta Road, Solapur Road, Baner Road, Pune-Satara Road.
- High: Old Mumbai highway, Paud Road, Sinhagad Road, Sangamwadi road, Maharashi Karve Road, Ganeshkhind Road, Bibwevadi road, Ghorpadi Road, Airport Road, Sus Road, Kondhwa Road and Pashan Road.

Pune’s road safety plan
- Pune is at 19th place in terms of higher accident severity with an average score of 29.8 fatalities per 100 accidents. 
- With the objective of improving the safety of all road users by reducing the numbers of accidents, the PMC had initiated Preparation of Road Safety Improvement Plan for urban roads in 2016. 
- On the basis of the report generated in 2017, the PMC has estimated the cost of improvement of road structures will be Rs 195 cr.

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