[sustran] Grade separator on JM Road will encourage speed: Pedestrians First

[Vinay Baindur]

Grade separator on JM Road will encourage speed: Pedestrians FirstTNN | Aug
9, 2011, 02.12AM IST
PUNE: Questioning the need for the proposed grade separator for vehicles at
the SG Barve chowk <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/SG-Barve-chowk>
 on JM Road <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/JM-Road>, city-based
group Pedestrians First has raised concerns about road safety due to the
construction of the grade separator.

The grade separator at Barve
chowk<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/grade-separator-at-Barve-chowk>
is
the second such project on J M Road, which has one-way traffic. The
construction of the first grade separator at Sancheti chowk is in progress.

Convenor of Pedestrians First, Prashant Inamdar, said the consecutive grade
separators at the two chowks will spell serious trouble for pedestrians. In
a letter sent to municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak, Inamdar stated that
vehicular speeds have already increased because of the one way traffic plan
implemented on the J M Road for the last two years.

"There was some curtailment and interruption of vehicle flow because of the
signals at Sancheti and Barve chowks. With grade separators provided at
Sancheti and Barve chowks and with the removal of signals, there will be
free and continuous flow of vehicles along the corridor. Consequently,
vehicular speeds will also increase tremendously," he said in the letter.

Inamdar said the increase in vehicle speed will leave no opportunity for
pedestrians to cross the road safely at both the chowks and also at
intermediate locations on the down-stream side, at places like engineering
college hostel, Jangli Maharaj temple. Any attempt to cross the road would
be life-threatening. The worst sufferers will be the senior citizens, women
and children, he said.

Stating that the increase in vehicle speeds could lead to road accidents,
the Pedestrians First pointed out that the entire J M Road is in city area
and speeds exceeding 30 kmph are not recommended at all. The letter stated
that there would be unsafe road conditions due to mixing and crossing of
traffic flows. Pedestrian safety on Shivaji Road too would get aggravated.

The letter stated that the need for grade separator has not been proved. "It
is necessary that the PMC publicise details of scientific traffic studies,
including evaluation of all options, techno-economic feasibility survey
after the implementation of the rotary traffic plan at Sancheti chowk-Barve
chowk-Observatory chowk, and also the one-way traffic plan on J M Road, to
prove that grade separator is required at Barve chowk," the letter stated,
demanding that the decision to construct the grade separator should be
reviewed.

Vinay Deshpande, PMC's officer on special duty, JNNURM works, was not
available for comment despite repeated attempts to contact him.