Torrential rain battered Pune on Wednesday, leading to severe waterlogging at several places in the city. Meanwhile, Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj also suffered the brunt. He shared that it took him more than four hours to reach his home in Koregaon Park from his office in Akurdi.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Bajaj stated, "I left my Akurdi office at 4:45pm and it took me more than four hours to reach home at Koregaon Park, which usually takes me 35 minutes."
He said that the situation on the roads in Pune has turned into a nightmare due to the failure of traffic signals and the absence of policemen.
Punekars Urge Pune Metro To Open District Court-Swargate Stretch Despite PM Modi’s Visit Cancellation
"This is vivid proof of the lack of accountability on the part of the government. At least I was in the comfort of my car escaping the plight of those on foot, on two-wheelers, in vans and buses. It must have been traumatic for so many people," Bajaj added.
Speaking about the statement by Bajaj, NCP MP Supriya Sule took to X and wrote, "The traffic system in the city of Pune is in dire straits. The displeasure expressed by Rajiv Bajaj of the Bajaj Industries Group underscores the seriousness of the situation. When knowledgeable individuals like Rajiv Bajaj speak openly about the plight of the city, it compels the rulers to introspect. Potholes on the roads accumulate rainwater, leading to accidents due to their unpredictability. Even a brief five to ten minutes of rain in the city can result in waterlogging on the roads, disrupting traffic. This indicates that very serious mistakes have been made in recent times at the levels of governance and administration regarding transport and overall planning of the city. The question arises: why should citizens suffer the consequences of these mistakes?"
पुणे शहरातील वाहतूक व्यवस्थेची सपशेल दुर्दशा झाली आहे. बजाज उद्योगसमूहाचे राजीव बजाज यांनी याबाबत व्यक्त केलेली नाराजी परिस्थितीचे गांभीर्य लक्षात आणून देण्यास पुरेशी आहे.राजीव बजाज यांच्यासारखे विविध क्षेत्राचे जाणकार लोक जेंव्हा शहराच्या दुर्दशेवर उघडपणे बोलतात तेंव्हा ती गोष्ट… pic.twitter.com/TmcBzUXptW
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) September 26, 2024
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PM Modi's Pune visit cancelled
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pune was cancelled today following heavy rains in the city. He was scheduled to inaugurate Pune Metro's District Court to Swargate underground stretch. He was also slated to lay the foundation stones for the metro route from Swargate to Katraj and an elevated corridor from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Nigdi. Along with this, he was also going to launch various development projects worth over ₹22,600 crore.
Meanwhile, despite the cancellation of the PM's visit, Punekars are urging the Pune Metro to open the District Court to Swargate stretch, giving huge relief to commuters from Pimpri-Chinchwad. Currently, if a commuter has to travel from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate, it takes more than an hour. During rains, it takes more than two hours to reach Swargate. However, with the opening of this stretch, the travel time of the commuters will come down drastically.