Daily commute turns buzzkill for Punekars' spirit
Punekars witnessed a sunny morning on Wednesday after almost a week of cloudy and rainy weather. Besides being a mood-booster, the sun also partly dried the otherwise waterlogged roads, providing respite to daily commuters who have been battling potholes, knee-deep water on roads and traffic jams, especially during peak hours. Here's a look at the yearly havoc that the early monsoon has wreaked on Pune, which was ranked the fourth most congested city in the world by TomTom Index in 2024.
Earliest monsoon onset in the last 63 years in the city
245 mm
Rainfall from May 1 to 27. Way above the normal 10.3 mm during the period
(Source: IMD, Pune)
31-84%
Peak hour traffic congestion level
37-40 mins
Approx time to cover 10 km in 2024
15.2 km/hr
Average speed during peak hours in 2024
(Source: TomTom Index)
Whether it's a gym session missed, an online course left unfinished, or simply a slower, calmer morning sacrificed, Pune's traffic is quietly robbing its citizens of the most valuable resource they have - their time. Here's what commuters could be doing instead of being stuck in traffic:
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A quick workout or yoga session
Enrolling in online courses or picking up new skills
Spending time with family
Relaxing, meditating or simply having a peaceful start to the day
Catching up on books or articles
Planning the day ahead, or reflecting on personal growth
Engaging in hobbies
Contributing time to community or social causes
Navigate traffic efficiently
Use real-time traffic apps to find the fastest routes
Avoid peak travel hours if possible
Carpool or use ride-sharing to reduce the number of vehicles on the road
Stay updated on metro construction and road closures to plan detours in advance
Keep your vehicle well-maintained to avoid breakdowns during traffic jams
Use public transport where feasible
Ways to make the most of your commute time
Listen to podcasts or audiobooks
Practice mindfulness or deep breathing exercises
Plan your day or set priorities using voice notes or hands-free apps
Use hands-free calls to stay connected with family or colleagues
Catch up on language learning or other educational apps during longer waits
A shared sense of exhaustion
'
Owing to metro construction, most of the dividers along the route are closed, forcing people to take a detour, adding another 15-20 minutes to their commute. Rain worsens things — signals stop working, traffic builds up, and places like Ramwadi Metro Station are waterlogged due to poor drainage.
'
- Jyotsna Borkar, an HR professional, who travels from Kharadi to Wakdewadi
'Potholes—especially the ones hidden under water at major junctions—have made things worse. They don't just slow down traffic; they are genuinely dangerous and can lead to serios accidents'
- Deepak Jamadar, a corporate insurance professional, who travels from Kharadi Bypass to Viman Nagar
'I cross a highway, and it is always riddled with traffic these days. It's things like these that clearly indicate why people are frustrated in traffic. It's due to wasted time. Accidents are so common that their severity is measured by the length of the traffic.'
- Kusum Rajpurohit, a communications manager, who travels from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Pune city
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