Kalakar Katta at Goodluck Chowk, FC Road, is a vibrant public space that has evolved into an important site for artistic expression and community interaction in Pune. A recent proposal to remove the Katta, citing traffic congestion, prompted Parisar to conduct a detailed on-ground assessment.

Our findings show that the existing junction design complies with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines, supports safe and efficient traffic movement, and does not contribute to congestion. Instead, observed issues relate to unregulated halting and parking, for which targeted solutions are recommended.

Based on this assessment, Parisar has submitted a letter to Pune Municipal Commissioner opposing the proposed removal of Kalakar Katta and highlighting its cultural and urban significance. Read this letter and technical note here. 

Watch our explainer video to understand the issue and why spaces like Kalakar Katta matter in our cities.

A two-day capacity building program and workshop was conducted in Pune city on 'Shaping Mobility for Young Children and Caregivers' on 23rd and 24th November for all Municipal Corporations and Smart City SPV’s of Maharashtra state by the State Urban Development Department in collaboration with WRI India and Parisar supported by Van Leer Foundation.

The capacity building workshop was planned with an objective of “A city that works for children, works for all!” aiming to enhance the capacity of city officials who are engaged in the development of streets and public transport to improve the mobility experience for young children and their caregivers, and achieve the vision of ‘Inclusive Mobility’ for Maharashtra.

The workshop was attended by the officials from around 22 Municipal Corporations and Smart City SPV’s of Maharashtra state.

Impact of Road Widening

As traffic levels soar in the city, roads get congested, leading to demands from various quarters - the traffic police, elected representatives, PMC planners and engineers and even the public - for road widening. Road widening is routinely marked in the Development Plan, in anticipation of growth in traffic. Eventually budgets are allocated and once land acquisition procedures (both time-consuming and very expensive) are completed, the widening of the road commences. There are two fundamental issues with this approach though - without any restraint on vehicle growth, soon the widened road also gets congested. And in the process of road widening, trees - often old and big trees along the roadside - get cut in the hundreds. In fact the road department is responsible for most tree cutting in the city. More traffic and less trees is a double recipe for increasing pollution, GHG emissions and heat island effects.

Transport experts have long dismissed road widening as a way to solve congestion. Instead they recommend promoting walking, cycling and public transport and vehicle restraint measures.

To help create a safer environment for children during their daily commute to and from school, The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken a significant step in ensuring safe commute to school. These carefully designed School Priority Zones Guidelines are a crucial component of the comprehensive School Travel Improvement Plan and Mobility Plan for Infant, Toddler and their Caregiver, and have been developed through extensive cooperation among schools, educational establishments, technical experts, and civil society groups. Parisar along with WRI India and technical experts of Urban Design teams had supported PMC in formulating these guidelines.