Poor traffic regulation led to architect’s death in Pune

The non-functional traffic signal and the broken fibre-glass road dividers at the Mrutyunjay Temple traffic signal on the busy Karve Road claimed the life of a young architect, Abhinandan Soman (34), on Monday afternoon.

A speeding construction dumper rammed into Abhinandan’s bike even as he was leaving the temple premises. The police said the heavy vehicle was speeding and the impact of the accident was so severe, that Soman died on the spot despite having worn
a helmet.

The driver of the dumper fled after the accident, creating a massive traffic jam on the busy road. Commuters in the area have complained that the non-functioning of the traffic signals every day between noon and 4 pm had resulted in overspeeding of vehicles on the road, resulting in at least one minor
accident daily.

A schoolboy, Atharva Sathye (15), was killed in an accident at nearly the same spot two years ago when he was hit by a speeding Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus on September 27, 2009. Following this accident, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had installed fibre-glass road dividers at the traffic signal to provide safety, especially to cyclists and two-wheeler riders turning right into Mayur Colony.

The dividers are now damaged and have not been replaced by the PMC Karve Road ward office for several months. DNA had highlighted the matter in its report ‘Road to Mayur Colony turns
into death trap’ in its August 14 edition.

Shopkeepers at the Mayur Colony traffic signal told DNA that apart from non-functional traffic signal at this busy intersection, there were no policemen at this junction to regulate traffic. They suggested the installation of speed breakers near the
junction.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhare told DNA that his predecessor, DCP Manoj Patil, had taken the decision of keeping the signals off in the afternoon at the traffic junction to ease traffic flow.

“However, we have now decided to keep the signals on even in the afternoons,” Pandhare said.

Meanwhile, police sub-inspector Anand Walimbe of the Erandwane Police Chowki said the dumper belonged to Messrs Bhide of Warje.

The driver of the dumper was still at large and a first information report (FIR) had not yet been registered by
the police.