PMPML is keen to implement the Hinjewadi Traffic Optmisation plan

PMPML is keen to implement the Hinjewadi Traffic Optmisation (HTO) plan prepared after conducting an online survey among 7,000 IT professionals to ensure smooth flow of traffic

There's good news for IT professionals in Pune. If things fall into place, traffic woes in the city will be a thing of the past. The traffic department and the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) are keen to implement the Hinjewadi Traffic Optmisation (HTO) plan that will ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

The HTO is a plan prepared by Net Impact Pune a group of 20 IT professionals and entrepreneurs to ease traffic in the city. The plan was prepared after conducting an online survey among 7,000 IT professionals. It was presented to the RTO, MIDC and the Pune Police Traffic Department last week. The report stresses the need to increase the frequency of PMPL buses to reduce the rush of private vehicles in the IT belt.u00a0

Ikshwaku Sharma who works with the Blue Chip IT company and is president of Net Impact Pune Chapter told MiD DAY, "After analysing the report, it's clear that 70 per cent of the commuters reside in mainly two areas of the city Cluster1 (Aundh/Baner/Pashan and Wakad that comprise 53 per cent) and Cluster 2 (Kothrud which comprises of 17 per cent of commuters).

He added, "The resident distribution was mapped to the current PMPML depots and six routes were identified that would cover 80 per cent of the commuters." Net Impact believes that by increasing the frequency of buses in Aundh and Kothrud to every 15 minutes during peak hours would solve the problem to a large extent.

PMPL, which is the public transport service provider for Pune and the Pune metropolitan region, has already provided 21 buses to Infosys on contract basis. PMPML traffic manager Sunil Gawali said, "As per the findings of the report presented by Net Impact, we start buses from Medipoint in Aundh to Hinjewadi, Corporation-Baner- Hinjewadi, Kothrud - Deccan- Baner and Kothrud- Bavdhan- Pashan- Baner- Hinjewadi after every 30 minutes during the peak hours. We will increase the frequency after analysing the feedback."

Vivek Bakshi, senior project manager working with a blue chip company, has started travelling by PMPL buses.

He finds them convenient compared to company buses. Manoj Deshpande, senior group manager residing in Aundh, switched over to PMPL buses from SUVs when he found that the travel time to Hinjewadi increased from 30 minutes to about 70 minutes. He said, "If the frequency of buses between Aundh and Hinjewadi improves to one bus every 15 minutes, many more people would travel by buses," Deshpande said. "Only 25 per cent of respondents said they need A/C buses. Others said that they would switch to PMPL buses as it is a flexible option," he added.