PUNE: The decision of Pune traffic police to convert the stretch of Fergusson College (FC) Road between Dnyaneshwar Paduka Chowk and Veer Chapekar Chowk (College of Agriculture) into a two-way facility permanently, which is now on the public domain for suggestions and discussion, has received a mixed response from residents.
On February 27, the traffic police issued the notification, signed by Additional Commissioner Sanjay Shinde, citing inconvenience caused to citizens. It stated that “Vehicles coming from Narveer Tanaji Wadi, Patil Estate, Model Colony, and University Road cannot turn on to FC Road and have to take a detour via Sancheti Hospital and SG Barve Chowk.”
Dinesh Kodekar, an autorickshaw driver, said, “The design of FC Road was changed for one-way traffic years ago and construction of footpath is already going on, due to which, roads have become narrow. If this road is opened for two-way traffic, it will cause havoc.”
Tushar More, who owns a tea stall near Police ground, said, “When there is smooth one-way traffic flow, why are the traffic police making it worse.”
He added, “If the road is opened for two-way vehicular flow, it will not only disturb traffic but also the work going on at the roadside.”
Pune University-Wakdewadi corporator Aaditya Malwe said, “There has been a mixed response to the Pune traffic police’s suggestion on making the proposed route two-way. Earlier, commuters coming from University Road had to take a diversion in Model Colony and then take a right turn at Hotel Lalit Mahal. One lane was marked till Dnyaneshwar Paduka Chowk for allowing vehicle flow on FC Road in the opposite direction.”
He added that if the road is opened for two-way traffic, it will save the time of the commuters who want to travel to Jangli Maharaj Road. “But at the same time, we need to think of the ongoing footpath work, which will cause chaos,” Malwe said.
OPPN FROM WITHIN
Some police officials from Shivajinagar traffic division are opposed to this new proposal. “It is a bad idea given the traffic volume on this road. Already, vehicles line up for a long period due to red signal or jams. The situation will worsen in the rainy season when one lane is submerged,” said a traffic policeman on condition of anonymity.
