Bombay HC Calls for Urgent Review of Pune’s Traffic Woes, Eyes Technological Solutions
Pune, 29th February 2024: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued a directive to the Pune Police Commissioner (CP) to conduct a comprehensive review of the city’s traffic situation and submit a detailed report. Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor expressed their intent to form a committee of experts based on the findings, aimed at assessing current traffic management measures and enhancing the capabilities of the traffic department through modern technological methods and equipment to alleviate traffic congestion in Pune.
This directive arose during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2015 by five concerned citizens highlighting the inadequate traffic management in Pune. The judges acknowledged the grievances raised in the PIL, noting various issues, including road rage stemming from insufficient traffic management.
In an affidavit-in-reply dated August 31, 2015, the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) outlined measures taken, such as daily accident reports, 1,250 CCTV cameras, computerization, Wi-Fi, a Facebook page, email facilities, and WhatsApp groups for officers to share crucial information and regulate traffic in Pune. However, senior advocate Anil Anturkar and advocate Rushikesh Barge, representing the petitioners, criticized these measures as “too late and too little,” pointing out the limited impact of email and WhatsApp groups.
Anturkar questioned the progress made, comparing it to high school students creating WhatsApp groups. He highlighted examples from other regions like Goa, Surat, and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, where exceeding speed limits resulted in immediate penalties.
In response, the judges emphasized the need for a fresh assessment of the traffic situation in Pune and tasked the CP with conducting a comprehensive review. The CP is instructed to gather data and statistics from relevant departments, convene meetings with concerned officers, and submit an affidavit detailing the current traffic situation and existing measures. The court stressed that the review should focus on the introduction of advanced technological measures for better traffic management.
The CP is expected to suggest additional measures to enhance traffic management in Pune. The court set a deadline of four weeks for the submission of the report and adjourned the hearing until March 27. The judges, in their oral observations, expressed concern over the prolonged pendency of the PIL since 2015 and suggested a consolidated or integrated approach for effective resolution. Government pleader Priyabhushan Kakade clarified that the state does not view the PIL as adversarial.
