The Nagar Road Citizens’ Forum has raised serious concerns over the lack of safe pedestrian crossings along the busy Nagar Road stretch, following the introduction of a signal-free traffic model by the Pune traffic police. While the removal of traffic signals and the addition of U-turns were intended to ease vehicle flow, residents say the move has created chaos and increased risks, especially for pedestrians. With zebra crossings and wardens missing along the 7-km stretch, citizens particularly the elderly and children are struggling to cross the road safely. The forum noted that vehicles now zip across the highway uninterrupted, leaving no safe window for people to cross.
Adding to the confusion is the removal of BRTS lanes without a complete relocation of bus shelters, causing disarray for commuters. According to the forum’s convenor, they’ve been flagging these issues for months, but little has changed. Motorists are also affected, as unclear U-turn signage and lack of lane discipline at intersections have created unsafe driving conditions. The group is urging authorities to revisit the current traffic setup, implement pedestrian-friendly solutions like at-grade crossings, and ensure proper coordination between civic bodies and traffic police to fix the system before more accidents occur.