The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed reducing parking spaces on 32 major roads across the city as part of a comprehensive strategy to address mounting traffic congestion. Additional recommendations include stricter enforcement against private buses and the implementation of a weekly ‘No Vehicle Day’ in government offices and large companies.A draft letter outlining these proposals has been sent to the municipal commissioner for approval. Once cleared, it will be forwarded to the Pune city police. However, the civic body has emphasised that effective traffic management is a shared responsibility and not solely the domain of the municipality.According to a senior official from the PMC’s road department, the administration has already implemented several measures based on suggestions made by the traffic police last year. “Diversions have been enforced on key roads such as Nagar Road, Solapur Road, Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar and Koregaon Park, while work is ongoing to remove encroachments, widen roads, and upgrade footpaths,” the official noted.The draft letter calls on the police to take additional steps under their jurisdiction, including:1. Stricter action against vehicles parked in 'No Parking' zones2. Relocating private bus operations outside the city core3. Increasing fines for parking violations and limiting parking zones4. Forming mobile squads to tow obstructing vehicles5. Advocating for a cap on private vehicle registrations in Pune6. Enhancing pedestrian safety using smart technology7. Coordinating policies on the installation and removal of speed breakersWith the number of private vehicles in Pune now exceeding 5 million, the PMC believes it is essential to limit new registrations to prevent worsening congestion.However, the proposal to reduce parking spaces has drawn some internal criticism. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Traffic), Amol Zende, argued that more parking infrastructure is needed, not less. “The number of vehicles is growing daily. Instead of reducing parking, the PMC should focus on creating more space,” he said.For over a year, the PMC and the police have worked together on decongestion strategies, with oversight from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Despite joint efforts, tensions have emerged, with police officials frequently holding the PMC accountable for the city’s traffic woes.