Pune: The civic body has finalised a plan to reduce the slope at two spots on a key stretch between Gangadham Chowk and Aai Mata Mandir to facilitate a safer commute.
According to civic officials, the process has begun, and the project is slated to finish in the beginning of the next year.
Road users in the area have for long now been complaining of the steep gradient, which is proving to be unsafe for motorists.
A fatal accident was reported on this stretch in June this year, prompting the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to carry out an inspection of the slope and come up with corrective measures.
Officials from PMC said a detailed survey of the road stretch and traffic was conducted considering various technical aspects. Two critical spots were identified for slope reduction. Besides, there are eight to nine approaches to the road where safety measures will be worked out so that the commuters will not face problems while travelling on the stretch.
After completion of the surveys, the civic administration recently started the process to appoint an agency to take up the work. The plan is to complete the work within six months.
Abhijit Joshi, a regular commuter in the area, said that repairs of the gradient have been pending for ages now. “The slope near Gangadham Chowk is so acute that a vehicle catches momentum immediately and riders cannot control the speed. This leads to accidents, although many mishaps go unregistered as there are no fatalities. It is good that PMC plans to reduce the slope.”
Following the accident three months ago, the civic administration and city traffic police executed some temporary measures on the stretch, including a ban on heavy vehicles, painting rumbling strips, and removal of encroachments — however, long-term measures were awaited.
A PMC official told TOI, “Digging will take place at two critical locations on the stretch to reduce the height of the slope. The peak point will be shifted about 100 metres ahead to further reduce the angle. The administration plans to execute the repairs with the use of advanced techniques. The repairs are estimated at Rs 11 crore, and the work is expected to finish in six months.”
Aashish Agarwal, a resident of the Market Yard area, also asserted that PMC should install signboards at the beginning of the stretch to alert travellers about the steep gradient. “Regular commuters are aware of the road slope; however, first-time motorists, especially drivers of heavy vehicles, fail to cope with the gradient,” he said.
The stretch between Gangadham Chowk and Aai Mata Mandir is among the city’s busiest, and connects Bibwewadi to Kondhwa and Market Yard. PMC has also proposed a flyover in the area to overcome frequent traffic jams faced by commuters. During peak hours, motorists spend at least 10-15 minutes trying to cross the junctions in the area.
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