Risking life and limb many motorists regularly take wrongside lsquoshortcutrsquo

  • | Sunday | 22nd July, 2018

Following an accident a few years ago, the barrier near Kamgar statue was removed, followed by the barrier near Gadital Chowk. This also reduced the vehicular movement near Shivajinagar court premises.Initially, height barriers were installed on either end of the bridge. “These height barriers used to prevent heavy vehicles from using the bridge at night-time,” Shinde said.“We have requested Pune Municipal Corporation to install the height barriers again. We have also been fining motorists in the night-time,” he said.The bridge was made a one-way about a decade ago in a bid to ease congestion at Gadital Chowk near Juna Bazaar . We regularly fine them,” said inspector B U Shinde of the Shivajinagar traffic division.However, the regular police action has failed to act as a deterrent.

PUNE: Cars, two-wheelers and even heavy vehicles going in the wrong direction on the one-way old Sangam Bridge is a regular sight, especially late at night.Motorists going from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road towards Shivajinagar are frequent offenders, making this stretch a nightmare for those driving towards Camp or Pune station. “Many two-wheeler riders and tempos, including three-wheeler tempos, travel in the wrong direction. We regularly fine them,” said inspector B U Shinde of the Shivajinagar traffic division.However, the regular police action has failed to act as a deterrent. Two-wheeler riders, in many cases residents of Ganeshkhind Road and Shivajinagar, are unable to resist the temptation of this “shortcut”.“They appear to see the no-entry sign as an invitation to take a shortcut, especially at night. It is very risky. We have also been fining motorists in the night-time,” he said.The bridge was made a one-way about a decade ago in a bid to ease congestion at Gadital Chowk near Juna Bazaar . This also reduced the vehicular movement near Shivajinagar court premises.Initially, height barriers were installed on either end of the bridge. Following an accident a few years ago, the barrier near Kamgar statue was removed, followed by the barrier near Gadital Chowk. “These height barriers used to prevent heavy vehicles from using the bridge at night-time,” Shinde said.“We have requested Pune Municipal Corporation to install the height barriers again. This is avert fatal accidents, like the case of the truck falling into the river on Saturday,” Shinde said.“We have also requested Bund Garden and Faraskhana traffic divisions to install barricades at Gadital Chowk to curb this menace,” Shinde said.

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