01 October,2009 08:50 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
It's meant to ease commuter woes, but is likely to end up increasing the traffic problems in Pune. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited's (PMPML) move to introduce 650 new buses by December means Pune will have to grapple with parking space issues. At present, the 1,400 PMPML buses are parked at busy junctions, obstructing the flow of traffic and resulting in jam-packed roads.
Complete mess
Anmol Salunke, who rides a two-wheeler, says the Swargate Square at Shankarsheth Road is in a mess every day because there are many PMPML buses parked. "There is no option, but to use the same road every day," said Salunke. Ashok Kamat said it is a major problem to cross the road at the Kothrud depot. "We need to have other places to park these buses," he opined.
Sunil Gawli, traffic planner, PMPML, said there are 10 depots in Pune and there is a possibility of getting more.
"We must find more spaces for the new fleet of buses," said Gawli. Srinivas Bonala, traffic planner, PMC, says the PMPML should look at places on the outskirts of Pune.
"There are three depots at Bhosari, Pimpri and Nigdi area in Pimpri-Chichwad. We recently inaugurated another depot at Nehru Nagar, where we can park 500 buses," said Shantaram Waghire, assistant depot manager.
Satish Kulkarni, general manager, PMPML, believes the parking issue can be solved. "So far, we've received 40 buses. We are working out on a plan to ensure proper parking of these buses. When the remaining buses come in, we will remove 200 outdated buses from the existing fleet," explained Kulkarni.
He added, "The PMC has also earmarked some places in its development plan, where these buses can be parked. We need to purchase the land, so that it is used to park buses."
