Commuters claim the city’s traffic situation has worsened in the absence of traffic personnel
Because of the festival market and infrastructure projects, disrupting traffic, movement of heavy vehicles in Market Yard, the old parts of the city and on Ganeshkhind Road has increased. The police officer also confirmed that challan machines used by traffic personnel were withdrawn around two months ago.
Responding to concerns about the “lack of traffic personnel” on roads, Bhajibhakare said, “Traffic police constables are managing vehicular movement at important chowks. Field personnel are currently relying on technology-based enforcement measures instead of direct action against violators, according to traffic police sources. An officer with the city traffic police told TOI, “The challan machines have been taken away.
PUNE: The traffic police’s suspension of challans and towing operations has coincided with rising road rule violations, worsening congestion and longer commute times across several key roads in the city, with commuters reporting inadequate management of vehicular movements at most junctions. Deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) Sandip Bhajibhakare attributed the congestion to multiple factors. “Vehicular movement on Satara Road, Karve Road, JM Road and other arterial roads has been disrupted for various reasons over the past few days. We will soon enhance their presence on other roads. “The challan machines were taken away about two months ago following the detection of certain irregularities in the functioning of traffic police personnel. We are not permitted to take action against traffic rule violators through the usual process and have been directed to take action using CCTV cameras and the Pune traffic police app. However, this online action does not deter motorists.”
