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The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced plans to prioritize the development of 33 crucial spots for road widening in a bid to reduce traffic congestion across the city. According to the civic body, this initiative is expected to benefit commuters and alleviate traffic congestion. The road department of PMC, along with the police, has identified 33 chronic traffic congestion spots following inspections and an extensive study referred to as the Road Safety Improvement Plan, which was based on inputs from citizens and the traffic department. Both departments collectively formulated recommendations to enhance road safety and ensure smoother commutes. PMC commissioner Dr Rajendra Bhosale stated that more than 30 spots in the city have been identified for development under the road widening initiative to alleviate traffic congestion. He explained that adjustments will need to be made, including some areas requiring redevelopment to widen the roads. This redevelopment process may involve removing poles, installing additional signals and U-turns. Bhosale mentioned that the areas have been inspected, and work is set to commence to address the traffic congestion. Dr Bhosale mentioned that the PMC and the police department will convene soon to select the junctions for improvement. He noted that based on the study conducted by PMC and the police department, most of the junctions could be easily decongested with minor adjustments such as adjusting traffic signals and relocating encroachments from the road. In certain stretches, reducing the size of footpaths could also help smoothen traffic flow. Regarding the prioritization of areas, PMC highlighted that while all roads need to be decongested, initial efforts would focus on roads in Koregaon Park. Additionally, PMC plans to address the missing road link from Gangadham to Tullanagar on Baner Sus Road, as well as areas like Ahmednagar Road, Wagholi, Pune-Solapur Road, and Navle Bridge. The proposed improvements include fixing proper signage, relocating bus stops, constructing footpaths or concrete dividers, increasing divider height, controlling speeding, establishing proper turning radii, removing temporary encroachments, and ensuring clear road markings including zebra crossings to facilitate smoother traffic flow.