Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) removed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes along Nagar Road, intending to ease traffic congestion, but left behind unused bus stops that now stand in the middle of the road, creating new challenges for commuters.
These bus stops, still displaying advertising hoardings, have become a hazard for drivers, particularly at major intersections like Viman Nagar Chowk, where vehicles encounter them directly after the signal turns green.
The BRT lanes on Nagar Road were dismantled in two phases, first in December last year and again this month, following recommendations from the Gokhale Institute and traffic police, who identified the BRT lanes as a contributor to traffic congestion.
However, while PMC swiftly removed the BRT lanes, the bus stops were left intact, defeating the original purpose of reducing traffic delays. Local residents are now urging the PMC to remove the bus stops promptly.
A local resident, stated, "The bus stops in the middle of the road obstruct traffic flow and raise the risk of accidents. Vehicles accelerating from signals encounter these stops suddenly, which is hazardous. It seems like they were left primarily for the benefit of advertisers."
Another resident, Sadabhau Gaykhe, added, "The bus stops should have been removed along with the BRT lanes, as their presence continues to contribute to congestion, diminishing the effectiveness of the BRT removal."
Responding to the concerns, Sanjay Dharav, an officer from PMC's Roads Department, said, "After dismantling the BRT lanes, we have started gradually removing the bus stops, with the Yerwada stop currently under process."
