Chakan traffic congestion: Industries asked to curb roadside parking and explore staggered shifts

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi has called for coordinated efforts by the administration and industries to address infrastructure and civic issues in the Chakan industrial belt stressing the need for better roads traffic management water supply and other essential facilities to support industrial growthAt a meeting with industry representatives in Chakan Dudi reviewed the problems faced by companies and discussed development works proposed for implementation over the next one to two years He urged industries and government agencies to work together to make the industrial area safer better equipped and more accessibleChakan is one of Pune districtrsquos major industrial hubs with a large workforce and substantial daily movement of employees and goods vehicles The pressure on its road network and civic infrastructure has made coordinated planning and improvements necessary officials said78km road network to be upgradedAn integrated development plan is being drawn up for approximately 78 km of roads in the Chakan industrial area The proposed works include road repairs and improvements stormwater drainage streetlights footpaths parking facilities utility corridors and road safety measuresThe administration has also directed the concerned agencies to survey natural drains streams and water channels obstructed by encroachments which contribute to waterlogging and flooding during the monsoon Action to remove unauthorised encroachments is to be completed by December 2026Cases involving structures for which permissions have been granted by competent authorities will be examined against approved plans and applicable laws before further action is takenRoadowning agencies have been asked to fill potholes improve road edges develop footpaths and remove encroachments Traffic police and other departments have also been instructed to ensure that roadwork causes minimum inconvenience to commuters and does not unnecessarily disrupt trafficIndustries asked to help ease congestionWith an estimated four to five lakh people travelling through the industrial belt daily traffic management emerged as a key issue at the meetingDudi urged companies to instruct their logistics contractors truck drivers and employees not to park vehicles on public roads Industries have been asked to arrange parking within company premises or at designated parking facilities developed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation MIDCCompanies have also been asked to submit details of employeesrsquo residential locations commuting routes working hours entry gates and shiftwise workforce strength to the concerned authorities within a week The information will be used to plan Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited PMPML bus services according to employeesrsquo commuting needsIndustries have also been asked to explore staggered shift timings to reduce congestion during peak hours The proposed elevated corridor between Nashik Phata and Rajgurunagar is expected to improve regional connectivity and facilitate industrial trafficWorkersrsquo housing and civic amenities on agendaThe meeting also discussed proposals to develop accommodation for workers in the Chakan industrial belt The plans include hostels and one and twobedroom residential units along with supporting facilities such as schools colleges hospitals and playgroundsCompanies have been asked to identify employees interested in such accommodation and share the information with the concerned agencies to help assess demand and plan housing facilitiesOn water supply Dudi directed the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran to initiate the necessary work related to the approved water supply scheme within the next four to five monthsFor scientific solid waste management MIDC has provided around 36 acres of land to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority PMRDA for a proposed facility Once operational gram panchayats and municipal councils in the area will be expected to transport collected waste to the facility for appropriate processing and disposalIndustries urged to support public amenitiesDudi also called on industries to contribute wherever feasible to improving public infrastructure along roads adjoining their premises The proposed initiatives include beautification and maintenance of road dividers installation of directional signboards public toilets bus stops and drinking water facilitiesThe meeting also discussed a proposal to develop an artificial intelligencebased traffic monitoring and enforcement system to curb traffic violationsRepresentatives of Bridgestone India MIRC Sansera Allstomping Schindler Skoda Auto Volkswagen MercedesBenz Mahindra Auto Steel Pooja Precision Engineering Kalyani Technoforge Puneet Bhuta Touch Components Inox Air Products Electro Pneumatics SKS Fasteners Mungi Engineers Huntsman Solutions Minda Corporation Uno Minda and Corning attended the meetingOfficials from the District Industries Centre MIDC Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company PMRDA the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health the Labour Department the Public Works Department the Revenue Department the Police Department PMPML and the concerned local bodies were also present