[torquecurve]

Anyone heard of any accidents on the Shadalbaba side of the new Sangamwadi road. I saw a lot of glass and a street light pole on its side with a big angled bend on it (as if something crashed at high speed).

On another note - Need to get the insurance renewed but it has expired a couple of days back and cannot renew online. Tata AIG (current insurer) says that they will send a surveyor and stuff but I will have to be there. With my work shifts the way they are, I am not sure I will get a chance. Does anyone know a better option (dont mind driving to the surveyor as well).

[S_U_N]

Originally Posted by torquecurve

On another note - Need to get the insurance renewed but it has expired a couple of days back and cannot renew online. Tata AIG (current insurer) says that they will send a surveyor and stuff but I will have to be there. With my work shifts the way they are, I am not sure I will get a chance. Does anyone know a better option (dont mind driving to the surveyor as well).

Off-topic: You can drive to work and call the surveyor there.

Work on Nagar Road is showing good progress. Does anyone know what is the deadline?

[sajo]

Why is there a sudden profusion rumble strips all over the town ?
I know its supposed to shake inattentive drivers out of their reverie , but these seem to be placed at random locations.
Eg : Opposite FTII on law college road.

[S_U_N]

The 'island' at Shastri Nagar chowk (in front of Hyundai showroom) is now gone. Also, the 6-seaters do not stop near the HDFC ATM (on Nagar road side) anymore in the morning.
Plus there is fresh tar layed on the left most lane. Suddenly the junction has become clean and smooth.

On the flip side, from 1 April, Local Body Tax (LBT) is going to hike prices around us.
Car spares will also become more expensive now (as indicated by one trader at Nana Peth.
Construction costs will also increase significantly.
I am not sure what is the impact on fuel prices in Pune.

[SSD2122]

Originally Posted by sajo

Why is there a sudden profusion rumble strips all over the town ?
I know its supposed to shake inattentive drivers out of their reverie , but these seem to be placed at random locations.
Eg : Opposite FTII on law college road.

I have also seen couple of speed breakers appear on few major roads. I recollect sometime back, most of the speed breakers were removed. Not sure why again they have appeared.

[S_U_N]

How come no one is talking about the Local Body Tax (LBT) and the impact it has had so far?

Didn't you guys notice less traffic on the roads since yesterday?

The LBT is surely relevant to us in all walks of life, and yes this includes automobiles.
I was speaking to a trader in Nana Peth a few days ago and they had kept a bandh in order to protect against the LBT. But that did not have any impact and LBT has got implemented.

So, will new cars be expensive? Will after market spares be expensive? Is fuel more expensive now?

[radek]

Originally Posted by S_U_N

How come no one is talking about the Local Body Tax (LBT) and the impact it has had so far?

So, will new cars be expensive? Will after market spares be expensive? Is fuel more expensive now?

If there is any impact, it will be positive in terms of process simplification. I don't see why anything should be more expensive as it just replaces what was earlier Octrai. So it is just change in collection method.

I think it will impact on those who had special arrangement with Octrai staff.
On the positive side, movement in the city will be much smoother. Trucks can move lot faster from source to destination without problem of 'Escort'. Fuel saved. Normal people not harassed when they shift their house etc.

[sajo]

Originally Posted by S_U_N

How come no one is talking about the Local Body Tax (LBT) and the impact it has had so far?

Didn't you guys notice less traffic on the roads since yesterday?

Looks like they forgot to inform Hinjewadi , as usual. Huge traffic yesterday, and today as well.

Originally Posted by S_U_N

So, will new cars be expensive? Will after market spares be expensive? Is fuel more expensive now?

Should be the same as octroi rates I guess.
Fuel is now cheaper by 85p.


BTW , has anyone noticed the massive surge in triple seat (or should I say, triple+ seat) riding in Pune over the past couple of years ? Yobos routinely ride right past cops on their bikes , ofcourse, helmetless , oblivious to the dangers to themselves or to those around them.

Ranting because read in the papers about an accident today.

Triple seat riding accident

[ajay_satpute]

@S_U_N: Agreed. There was quite a less traffic throughout my daily route too. Especially, the heavy vehicles being off the road, makes a huge difference. However, today morning I felt that there were more vehicles on the road than usual.

By the way, Pune Police and PMC has charted a very ambitious plan for the revamp of Paud Road. The plan is especially for the road between Chandani Chowk to Kothrud Depot junction. I read about 10 changes which they are planning to implement. For instance, the Auto rikshaw stands around the Depot junction will be moved, the private bus parking spot will be moved, etc...

News article: http://online2.esakal.com/NewsDetail...A4%BE%E0%A4%B0

After the deadly incident on the slope from Chandani Chowk to Kothrud Depot, the roads on all sides are being widened and that's a huge relief, especially in the evenings. However, exactly since the accident day, the traffic police representatives at the bypass-Chandani Chowk junction have disappeared into thin air, which is quite ironical. People coming down from the slope and entering the bypass have hard time negotiating with the incoming traffic from the Hinjewadi side and vice versa.

Regarding LBT impact: On the contrary, things are supposed to get cheaper for us. There is already a new rate card published by the PCMC commissioner stating that all fuels, gold, silver, edible oil, etc are already cheaper.

[ani_meher]

@sajo: There were total 5 persons - 3 adults, 2 small children (presumably, as the woman herself was 30 years old) riding on that motorcycle. The Nagar highway is already a speedy road, and such accident, that too because her dupatta tangled with other motorcycle's mirror, is very unfortunate.

I have often seen ladies riding two wheelers with their dupatta/pallu flapping behind, like superman's cape. I hope this sad event brings awareness of the possible dangers of such negligence. RIP Mrs Gajarmal.

[mmxylorider]

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

After the deadly incident on the slope from Chandani Chowk to Kothrud Depot, the roads on all sides are being widened and that's a huge relief, especially in the evenings. However, exactly since the accident day, the traffic police representatives at the bypass-Chandani Chowk junction have disappeared into thin air, which is quite ironical. People coming down from the slope and entering the bypass have hard time negotiating with the incoming traffic from the Hinjewadi side and vice versa.
.

The first thing that should be done is to prevent parking opposite Banjara hills and other small joints at the NDA road/Chandni Chowk intersection. Even after the demolition earlier, makeshift 'tapris' have cropped up.

The barricade preventing people coming from Univ circle on NDA road to continue onwards towards Paud is meaningless. One has to go down all the way to Paud road to get back to beyond the barricades. Of course, most bikers still go against the one way.

Have also observed, with widening of the Chandni Chowk-Paud Road connector, more vehicles are coming wrong way up to join Bangalore bound NH4. I say, widen even further, put up a divider and make it official! It will mean even less traffic on the overbridge.

[sajo]

Originally Posted by ani_meher

@sajo: There were total 5 persons

More the merrier is not an adage for two wheeler occupancy, which sadly , Punekars dont care about.
I distinctly remember back in my college days, there used to be a certain mind-block in the minds of youngsters against multi seat riding , atleast due to fear of getting caught by the cops.
Traffic Cops have become lazier or complacent or overwhelmed than say, 5-6 years ago.

[S_U_N]

Originally Posted by radek

If there is any impact, it will be positive in terms of process simplification. I don't see why anything should be more expensive as it just replaces what was earlier Octrai. So it is just change in collection method.

I think it will impact on those who had special arrangement with Octrai staff.
On the positive side, movement in the city will be much smoother. Trucks can move lot faster from source to destination without problem of 'Escort'. Fuel saved. Normal people not harassed when they shift their house etc.

While I am not sure about the impact at the moment, I have a feeling that the older model allowed many things to slip by. Since I order lot of stuff online, it was always a question mark if I would be charged any octroi or not.
It actually depended on the courier company. So for example, FedEX was the worst courier for me, since they would compulsorily pay Octroi and include some handling charges (say Rs. 50). So for small value product it just did not make sense.
However, I did save quite a bit through other companies like Aramex, BlueDart and a few more.

I guess things will be more predictable now.

Here is the list and the tax rate.
http://www.punecorporation.org/pmcwe...BT%20Rates.pdf

To be honest, I do not support this change. Octroi/ LBT should have been abolished completely.
A state like Goa is a good example (much better infrastructure with such less tax.)
The funds are and will continue to be misused.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by sajo

More the merrier is not an adage for two wheeler occupancy, which sadly , Punekars dont care about.
I distinctly remember back in my college days, there used to be a certain mind-block in the minds of youngsters against multi seat riding , atleast due to fear of getting caught by the cops.
Traffic Cops have become lazier or complacent or overwhelmed than say, 5-6 years ago.

The cops have booked the bus driver for negligent driving. How on earth is his fault if the lady falls just infront of his bus' tyres? If anyone has to be booked, it is the two wheeler rider himself who was taking 5 people on the bike.

[kaushik60]

Originally Posted by shipnil

The cops have booked the bus driver for negligent driving. How on earth is his fault if the lady falls just infront of his bus' tyres? If anyone has to be booked, it is the two wheeler rider himself who was taking 5 people on the bike.

I agree. The only complaint I found against the bus driver in the report was the fact that he did not stop and continued driving, presumably due to fear and shock.

It is entirely the irresponsibility of the persons riding on the bike.

Very sad incident, in any case.