Last week, two young Puneites, Mayur Gujar (23) a BPO executive, and Anant Pande (27), an IT professional, tragically lost their lives when they were run over by rash drivers in two separate accidents. Both men were riding two-wheelers on their way home at night.

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If Gujar and Pande were living in cities with a good public transport system — like Kolkata or Mumbai — there is every chance that they would still have been alive. In all probability, they would have used the metro rail in Kolkata, the BEST bus system or the suburban trains in Mumbai for their daily commuting. Thanks to the poor bus service, Punekars don’t have an option.

With the city expanding and stretching its borders, thousands of citizens are forced to commute dangerously on their two-wheelers. On an average, up to 10 two-wheeler riders die on Pune roads every month, usually in a mishap involving rash driving. With just 1,250 public buses catering to a population of nearly five million, the Pune public transport system is a downright shame.

Tragically, Pune has not been able to emulate the good practises from across the country. Kolkata started its metro project in 1984, a good 27 years ago, and transports thousands of Kolkatans safely every day. Similarly Mumbai, which is only 190 km away from Pune, has arguably the country’s best public bus service. Delhi, and now Bangalore, have their own metros.

Pune, inspite of its crying need, is without a metro, inspite of some heavyweight politicians and businessmen swearing by the welfare of this city. How many more Gujars and Pandes must die for sanity to prevail?