Pimpri-Chinchwad: In a major move to enhance road safety and inclusivity, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has launched the ambitious ‘Urban Streetscapes’ project. This initiative focuses on transforming key city roads—including the stretch from Dapodi to Nigdi and areas under Nigdi Authority—into safer and more pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares, ensuring smooth and secure traffic flow for all users.
Under this project, the corporation is prioritizing uninterrupted and obstacle-free pedestrian pathways, aligning with the recent Supreme Court directive mandating all states and union territories to provide continuously level and safe footpaths for pedestrians.
Significant improvements are also underway on the old Mumbai-Pune highway, where the project aims to provide unobstructed footpaths, dedicated cycle tracks, comfortable seating areas, and safe pedestrian crossings. Special attention is being paid to upgrading street lighting, redesigning intersections, and relocating utility lines to enhance overall safety and convenience. All developments strictly follow the standards set by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
Taking inspiration from global cities such as Paris and Copenhagen, which have heavily invested in safe infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, PCMC is making concerted efforts to prioritize non-motorized commuters in its road design plans.
While drafting the ‘Urban Streetscapes’ blueprint, the corporation engaged extensively with a diverse range of stakeholders—citizens, resident welfare associations, vendors, shopkeepers, and traffic police—to incorporate their valuable feedback into the road planning and design process.
A survey conducted by ITDP India on the old Mumbai-Pune highway revealed compelling citizen opinions:
79% believed that improved road design would increase walking and cycling activities.
87% supported the redesign and redistribution of road space.
87% expressed feeling unsafe while crossing roads.
82% felt current roads are unsafe for children and senior citizens.
76% reported difficulties traveling at night.
59% identified speeding vehicles as a major safety concern.
Shekhar Singh, Commissioner and Administrator of PCMC, said, “We are prioritizing making roads under our jurisdiction safe not only for vehicles but also for pedestrians and cyclists. The ‘Urban Streetscapes’ project is proving to be a key initiative in enhancing road safety. While executing these works, we are carefully considering the needs of pedestrians and cyclists alongside those of private and public vehicles.”
Bapusaheb Gaikwad, Deputy City Engineer, added, “There were complaints about narrow roads in parts of Pimpri-Chinchwad. To address this, we are reallocating unused spaces near roads and redesigning parking and vehicle routes, ensuring safer roads and smoother traffic flow for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike.”
Sunil Pawar, Executive Engineer, explained, “With 90 private vehicles for every 100 residents, widening roads is not a sustainable solution but a temporary fix. To address traffic challenges long-term, the ‘Urban Streetscapes’ project prioritizes public transport as well as pedestrian and cyclist safety.”
