Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a project to reduce the steep slope on the road between Aai Mata Temple at Gangadham Chowk and MTM Market, which has been a site of frequent and often fatal accidents.
The road department plans to use innovative technology to tackle the issue, with an estimated 500-meter stretch targeted for improvement.
Chief Engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar of the PMC's road department stated that the decision was made in response to the numerous accidents occurring on this stretch, including a recent tragic incident where a woman lost her life in a collision with a truck.
The road's steep gradient has been a consistent hazard, and with the increasing population in the southern region of Pune, traffic has surged, further exacerbating the problem.
To address this, the PMC has opted to implement a new road construction method that involves laying a single layer of gravel beneath a thin layer of asphalt and cement, instead of the traditional two-layered asphalt approach.
This change is expected to significantly reduce the slope and improve safety. Despite the higher costs associated with this technology, the road is expected to have greater longevity.
The traffic police have already banned heavy vehicles on this route during the day due to the risks posed by the steep slope. The PMC's initiative to reduce the gradient is part of broader efforts to enhance road safety in the area, marking the first time such technology will be used by the civic body.
