A report on the Pune Pedestrians' Dat celebrated on 11 December 2021

1. Story of
Lakshmi Road
Open Street Mall
11th December 2021
Pedestrian Day Event
Presented To
NMT Committee
13th January 2022

2. Contents
1. Background
2. Objective of the initiative
3. Planning efforts
4. Making of Lakshmi road open street mall
5. Lakshmi road on Pedestrians’ Day
6. Learnings and feedback
7. Way forward

3. Background

4. Background and objectives
It is observed and accepted
the world over that thriving
and charming shopping areas
are highly pedestrian friendly
or even fully pedestrianized.
This observation has inspired
the Pune Development Plan
to suggest that Lakshmi Road
be pedestrianized, so that
customers may enjoy
shopping on Lakshmi Road,
and Lakshmi Road’s
economy may flourish.

5. As per Pune Development Plan-
"On an experimental basis, vehicles may be banned on Lakshmi Road and
adjoining streets (within 50m to 200m) from 8 am to 8 pm, effectively
turning an area of approximately about 0.5-1.0 square kilometers into a
vehicle-free zone to ease the air pollution and traffic jams that plague
the old city. International experience shows that despite the initial
resistance, pedestrianization has often improved the businesses and
economy of the area which is in addition to the social benefits. If the
ban proves successful, it could be made permanent."
_Final DP report, page 249
Background

6. Objectives
Hon Mayor of Pune
announced that 11th
December would be observed
as Pedestrians’ Day in Pune.
It was a good opportunity to
do a pilot of ‘Lakshmi Road
Open Street Mall’, by
pedestrianizing a stretch of
the road and inviting
shoppers to enjoy & shop.
The learnings from this pilot
would be immensely useful in
developing the core city area
as a thriving shopping locality
supported by sustainable
transport infrastructure.

7. Planning efforts

8. Planning efforts: Awareness – Pedestrians’ Day
The Lakshmi Road initiative
was a part of the overall
Pedestrians’ Day activities, so
it was important that Pune
residents were aware of the
Pedestrians’ Day itself.
To that end, PMC opened a
campaign on their social
media handles. Various
NGOs did likewise too.
News coverage in print media
too helped immensely.

9. Preliminary findings: challenges highlighted by the visitors
72% pedestrians
highlighted that parked
vehicles on the street
trouble them the most.
The parked vehicles and
vehicles make it difficult for
pedestrians to access the
shops on the other side of the
street.
60% shopkeepers mentioned
that they typically use the
space in front of their shop to
park their vehicle.

10. Preliminary findings: visitors’ consensus on conducting trials
90% of surveyed visitors
supported the idea of open
street mall trials.

11. Preliminary findings: Shopkeepers’ consensus on conducting trials
Out of 29 shops of various
types, 45% shopkeepers
supported the idea of
conducting trials of open
street mall.
Out of 6 jewellery shops, 4
shopkeepers supported the
idea of trials.

12. Planning efforts: Consultations
This initiative was impossible
without local stakeholders’
engagement.
Hon Mayor, Addl
Commissioner, HOD of Road
Dept held a few meetings with
vendors from both organized
and unorganized sectors to
consider their points of view.

13. Consultations with stakeholders
The following authorities and
stakeholders were involved in the
consultations
⮚ Hon. Mayor, Pune
⮚ Additional Municipal Commissioner,
PMC
⮚ PMC Road department officers,
engineers and urban designers
⮚ NGO’S and Independent
Consultants
⮚ Trader’s association
⮚ Vendor’s association
⮚ Traffic Police Department, Pune
Total 6 consultations took place between
the stakeholders. Some traders,
especially jewellery shop-owners, raised
concerns over pedestrianization. Traffic
police raised objection over traffic
management. However vendor’s
association and several garment shop-
owners supported the initiative.

14. Consultation and responding to the stakeholders (and negotiations)
Following objections were raised by the
trader’s association and traffic police
department
1. Shop owners, especially jewellery
shops, were concerned that there will
be fewer customers if there is no on-
street parking.
2. Jewellery shop owners said that
walking had the risk of crimes like
snatching bags.
3. Lakshmi road is the main vehicular
street connecting camp to Deccan. If
the road is blocked for vehicles then all
other internal roads including Bajirao
road, Shivaji road, Kumthekar road will
observe traffic blockades and chaos.
4. Traffic police department raised
objection over traffic management as
Bajirao road, Shivaji road, road leading
to NMV school were dug up by water
and sewerage department.

15. Selection of Intervention Area
The 500m stretch of Lakshmi
Road between Nagarkar Talim
Chowk to Umbrya Ganpati
Chowk was selected for this
trial.
The area selection was based
on the study done by PMC in
2015. The feasibility report
proposes the same stretch for
phase 1 implementation of the
Lakshmi Road pedestrianization
proposal. The selected stretch
has more retail outlets and
attracts more visitors. Map : Stretch Selected for Intervention

16. Design proposal
Technical Design features:
● 3 zones: Footpath and sidewalk for
pedestrians, space for vendors, and a
zone for street furniture and activities.
● Safe, secure and clean wide-open street.
Human Design features:
● “No vehicle zone” prioritizes humans
over vehicles.
● Street designed for pedestrians to have
delightful shopping experience while
walking.
● Public space for live activities like kids'
zones, street art, live music, street play,
seating spaces, selfie points.
● Improved environment with planters.
Result:
● Covid19 safe as ample space to maintain
social distance.
● Seamless and stress-free shop to shop
walking movement as mall like
experience.
● Improved air quality, healthy street.
15.0m
9.50m
2.75m
2.75m
3.5m
2.75m
2.75m
3m
3m
Existing
Street
section
Design
Street
section
Proposed street design concept layout
Pedestrian’
Priority
Healthy street
Ease of doing
Business
Comfortable
and Accessible
Safe and Secure Publicness Equity Improved
Air quality
Design benefits

17. Design proposal (Original slide, retained for reference)
Design features:
● Design is within the limitations for trial.
● Humanizing street by no vehicle zone.
● Safe, secure and clean wide-open street
dedicated for pedestrians to have
delightful shopping experience while
walking.
● Seamless and stress-free shop to shop
walking movement as mall like
experience.
● Free-up existing footpaths by
accommodating existing street vendors
on roadside open space.
● Covid19 safe as ample space to maintain
social distance.
● Public space for live activities like kids'
zones, street art, live music, street play,
seating spaces, selfie points.
● Colorful street paint work.
● Improved environment with planters.
● Improved air quality.
● Healthy street.
15.0m
9.50m
2.75m
2.75m
3.5m
2.75m
2.75m
3m
3m
Existing
Street
section
Design
Street
section
Proposed street design concept layout
Pedestrian’
Priority
Healthy street
Ease of doing
Business
Comfortable
and Accessible
Safe and Secure Publicness Equity Improved
Air quality
Design benefits

18. Design proposal
Umbrya Ganpati Chowk
Nagarkar
Talim
Chowk
Proposed street design layout
Enlarged part of proposed
street design layout

19. Making of
Lakshmi Road
Open Street Mall

20. Use of simple, fast, portable and flexible execution techniques
Since only two nights were available for
implementation, the execution team used
simple, flexible and portable materials
like paint, pots, pataka, portable chairs to
furnish the street. The helped easy
placement and removal of the material.
The two meter wide zone otherwise
occupied by parking was painted, and
hosted hawkers. This helped create
designated space for hawkers. Painting
also created spaces for on-street
activities. Pots in the middle and
alongside the road gave it a garden-like
feel. Portable chairs placed at regular
intervals provided resting spaces for
shoppers. Patakas added a festive flavor.

21. Design elements
Vendors zone
along railing
Planter
Pataka for enclosure and festive feel
Public Space for free movement
and live activities
Free-up
footpath
Street
Paint
Work
Kids Painting Zone
Safe Kids play zone
Snakes and ladder
Safe shopping
along with kids
Vendors Zone
along railing on
road side
Live music
Street Play
Seating spaces
with planter
Entrance gate
Pataka along
the street
Street paint work

22. Onsite Meetings with Stakeholders (Vendor association)
However, vendors’ association and garment
shop-owners supported the initiative.
1. According to several garment shop-
owners, pedestrianization will help
increase customer footfall and will help
business, since customers will be able
to shop freely.
2. Pollution and honking free shopping
experience will be an added advantage
for business said the garment shop-
owners.
3. Vendors felt that the initiative will also
help from security point of view.
Jewellery and mangalsutra theft could
reduce since snatchers won’t be able
to flee on vehicles.
After discussing with traffic police, trader’s
association, a middle ground was found and
it was decided to organize the initiative
from 11 am to 4 pm instead of 9 am to 11
pm.

23. Bus operations and traffic management plan
1. Traffic Diversion
a. Traffic coming from eastern part of
Lakshmi Road was diverted towards
Shaniwarwada from Bajirao road. People
could either take Kelkar road, Riverside
road or Congress bhavan road, as per
destination.
b.From Kelkar chowk to Omkareshwar
chowk, traffic movement was restricted
owing to repairs.
2. Parking
a. Four Parking lots were identified and
marked where people could park (Though
it was encouraged to either use cycle, bus
or walk to reach Lakshmi road)
b.The identified parking lots were
i. Haribhau Sane Vahantal
ii.Hamalwada Vahantal
iii.Hutatma Babu Genu Vahantal
iv.Satish Misal Vahantal

24. Bus operations and traffic management plan
PMPML Special Routes
Special midi-bus routes were organised to
make access easier to Lakshmi road. Midi-
buses ferried from Swargate, Deccan and
PMC - Important nodes
a. Route 1: Deccan Bus stand -
Kumthekar road - Umbrya Ganapati -
Lakshmi road - Deccan Bus stand
b.Route 2: Swargate - Tilak road - Alka
Talkies - Kumthekar road - Swargate
c.Route 3: PMC - Shivaji road - Nagarkar
Talim chowk - Bajirao road - PMC
This routes were in addition to the normal
PMPML routes mentioned in the map

25. Challenges while execution
⮚ A challenge on the actual
Pedestrians’ Day was to prevent on-
street parking of vehicles right from
early morning hours, so that the
street remained vehicle free through
out the day.
⮚ Interaction and on-street
preparations increased the
confidence among both - the
shopkeepers & the hawkers.

26. Challenges while execution
⮚ The preparations for the execution of
this initiative were to be done within a
tight timeframe. Due to ever busy
nature of Lakshmi road during the
daytime, the on-site preparations were
done during night hours.
⮚ Temporary road markings were to be
done in such a way that they would
not cause confusion after the initiative
ends.
⮚ Getting the stakeholders’ co-operation
and involvement was a very important
task during the execution. Spreading
the word and keeping the
neighborhood’s residents and
shopkeepers well informed of the
changes happening on the day was a
challenge.

27. Lakshmi road
Open Streets Mall

32. Learnings and
feedback

33. Media coverage
● Positive media coverage is received both
local and national prominent media and
press houses Times of India, Pune Mirror,
Hindustan Times, Maharashtra times,
Sakaal, Lokmat, Pudhari.
● News media channels like ABP majha,
Aajtak, Time now have also covered the
event very positively.
● Social media channels also covered the
event and it saw a huge hit.
● Some criticism on implementation is also
received like traffic and parking
management, bad condition of bylanes,
with a positive acceptance to the concept
of open street mall.
● People gave opinions like- Never seen
Lakshmi road like this, Feels free to walk
and shop with kids, Good air quality,
Stress free movement, Make it a regular
routine, Make it permanent or atleast on
weekends, Very good concept and must
needed in core area.

34. Media coverage
Nagpur
press

35. Media coverage

36. Social Media Impact
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube

37. Findings on the open street mall day: Opinion
More than 300 pedestrians were
surveyed, out of which 96%
expressed that it will be a great idea
to transform the street into an open
street mall. 70% said that it should
be conducted once in a week or
once in a month.
Safe walking environment, enhanced
shopping experience and
beautification were highly appreciated
by the visitors.
Poor parking management, traffic
diversion and poor bus connectivity
were the major concerns.
27 shopkeepers were interviewed, out
of which 70% supported the idea of
conducting it every week/ month or
year.
Street vendors were extremely happy
due to potentially increasing footfall.
96% pedestrians 70% shopkeepers 90% street vendors
Stakeholders’ opinion on agreement to repeat the initiative.

38. Findings on the open street mall day: Shopkeepers’ opinion
Out of 28 shops surveyed, 77% expressed that it could be conducted every week/ month or year, whereas 4 garment
shopkeepers, 2 jewellery shopkeepers and one shoe shopkeeper expressed their concerns over repeating the initiative.

39. Findings on the open street mall day: Footfall
High footfall was observed on the day with 48% increase in footfall between Kunte chowk to Nagarkar
Talim chowk

40. Stakeholder responses
“India’s first
city to
celebrate
this, we will
do it again !“
“It's great to
walk without
stress of
traffic“
“Roadside
shopping is
increased, I
like it “
“Air quality feels
better, nice green
plants. My children
and I love it“
“We should have
such programs
with all
stakeholders,
traders involved“

41. Feedback and
testimonials

42. Name- Prakash Medekar
“ही संकल्पना मला खूप आवडली. मी ह्या संकल्पनेबद्दल २०१६ मध्ये सकाळ वृत्तपत्रात ललहहले होते, पण ती आता
प्रत्यक्षात साकरते आहे. मी या संकल्पनेचा अनुभव यापूवी अमेररक
े मध्ये घेतलेला आहे. असा उपक्रम दर शननवारी-
रवववारी राबवावा असे मला वाटते.”

43. Name - Pankaj Pabal
“ही संकल्पना खूप चांगली आहे. असा उपक्रम पुण्यामध्ये खूप हिकाणी असावा. यामुळे लोकांना चालणे सोपे झाले
आहे; तसेच गाडयांचा होणार आवाज, होणारे प्रदूषण या पासून मुक्तता लमळेल.”

44. “हा पादचारी हदन खूपच कौतुकास्पद आहे. असा उपक्रम दर, ककंवा महहन्यातील दोन शननवारी तरी राबवावा अशी ववनंती
आहे. यामध्ये पथारीवाल्यांचे प्रमाण जास्त असावे तसेच लहान मुलांसािी पण काही उपक्रम असावेत. हा उपक्रम दुपारी १२ ते
रात्री १० वाजेपयंत राबवावा.”

45. मुलगी - माझे नाव गररमा. मला खूप छान वाटते आहे. असे वाटते आहे की रस्त्यावर मनसोक्त खेळावे.
वपता - हा उपक्रम राबववल्याने खूप छान वाटते आहे. हा संपूणण पररसर चालणाऱ्या लोकांनी भरून गेला आहे. खरेदी सािी खूप
आल्हाददायक आणण प्रसन्न वातावरण तयार झाले आहे.

46. “ही संकल्पना खूप चांगली आहे. खूप भारी वाटते आहे. यामध्ये अधिक वेंडसण असावेत. आिवडयात एकदा तरी असा उपक्रम
घेण्यात यावा. पाकक
ं ग हटववल्यामुळे लोकांना खरेदी करण्यामध्ये होणारा त्रास दूर झाला आहे.”

47. “हा उपक्रम राबववल्यामुळे खूप छान वाटते आहे. पूवी पाकक
ं ग असायचे, फ
ु टपाथ वर व्हेंडर असायचे पण आता त्या समस्या
नाहीशा झाल्या आहेत तसेच रस्ता प्रदूषण ववरहहत झाला आहे. हा उपक्रम अनेक हिकाणी राबवावा असे वाटते.”

48. Shopkeeper – ही संकल्पना चांगली आहे . पथारीवाल्यांसािी पण चांगली गोष्ट आहे. पाललक
े ने
पथारीवाल्यांचे ननयोजन क
े ले पाहहजे. या उपक्रमाचा आम्हाला ननश्चचतच फायदा होईल. सुरक्षक्षत चालता
येत असल्यामुळे खरेदी करणाऱ्यांचेही प्रमाण वाढले आहे. भववष्यात आम्हा दुकानदारांनाही त्याचा
फायदा होईल. ओपन स्रीट प्लाझा ची वेळ चुकली असे मला वाटते. सध्याच्या ओलमक्रॉनच्या काळात
सोशल डडस्टश्न्संग पाळून हे क
े ले असते तर बरे झाले असते. ”

49. Shopkeeper – हा प्रकल्प अनतशय सुंदर आहे आणण आम्हांला त्याचा प्रनतसाद पण चांगला लमळाला आहे. दर आिवडयाला सकाळी
11 ते सायंकाळी 7 पयंत शननवार आणण रवववार तरी झाला पाहहजे. ग्राहक आिी अधिक वेळ थांबत नसे पण या वॉककंग प्लाझा मुळे
तो थांबून खरेदी करत आहे . ग्राहकांना क
ु टुंबासोबत आपल्या लहान मुलांना घेऊन खरेदी करण्याचा आनंद लमळतोय कारण वाहनांची
ये-जा सुरू असतांना जे सुख लमळत नाही ते यामध्ये लमळत आहे. याने ग्राहकांची संख्या अधिक वाढेलच आणण दुकानदारांनाही चांगला
ग्राहक लमळतोय. म्हणून हा प्रकल्पा तुम्ही राबवावा अशी आमची इच्छा आहे.” Kunal Kataria KK Sarees

50. Street Vendor - या उपक्रमामुळे लोकांचा खूप फायदा झाला आहे.पाकक
ं ग काढल्यामुळे आम्हालाही व्यवसायात येणाऱ्या
अडचणी नाहीशा झाल्या आहेत. लोकांनाही खरेदी करण्यास आनंद होत आहे. पूवी पेक्षा आज ववक्री करण्यास खूप मजा येते
आहे.

51. Street vendor 2- हे पाहून खूप छान वाटते आहे. गाडयांचा आवाज , प्रदूषण, पाकक
ं ग - या सवण समस्या दूर झाल्या आहेत. हा
उपक्रम आिवडयातून दोन हदवस - शननवारी , रवववारी असावा असे वाटते. खरेदी करण्यातला आनंद लोकांच्या चेहऱ्यावर
हदसून येतो आहे. आम्हालाही ववक्री करणे सोयीचे आणण सुखकर होत आहे.

52. Street vendor - “हा उपक्रम खूप छान आहे. त्यामुळे लक्ष्मी रोडला एक वेगळी ओळख ननमाणण झाली आहे. आम्हांला आणण
चालणाऱ्यांनाही ननवांतपणा लमळतो आहे. रस्त्यावर रहदारी नसल्यामुळे खूप छान वाटते आहे. रस्त्याचे सुशोभीकरण
क
े ल्यामुळे खूप मजा वाटते आहे..”

53. Shopkeeper Staff – “आम्ही इथे पीएनजी ज्वेलसण मध्ये स्टाफ आहोत आणण रोज इथे येतो; पण आज खूप छान वाटत आहे.
पहहल्यांदाच लक्ष्मी रोड वर असा काही अनुभव घेतोय. इतर वेळेस सुद्िा गदी असतेच पण आज दुकानात येणारा ग्राहक खूप खुश आहे
आणण ही खूप चांगली गोष्ट आहे. आम्ही तर म्हणतोय की प्रत्येक शननवार रवववार असं क
े ल्यास आम्हाला खूप आवडेल.”
Sharda Bahingade, PNG Jewellers Staff

54. Need for comprehensive approach for core city area
The initiative along the 500m stretch of
Lakshmi road had an impact on a wider
area around Lakshmi road. The impact was
observed till Tilak road on South, Shivaji
road on East, Deccan on West and the
riverbed road on North. In future, if the
intervention along Lakshmi road has to
function well, then a sustainable and holistic
design needs to be planned for the core city
area. The Comprehensive Mobility Plan of
Pune has suggested a mobility plan for the
core city area to support and reinforce the
pedestrian activity along Lakshmi road.
Also, the feasibility report on
pedestrianization of Lakshmi road, created
by PMC in 2016, has proposed a
comprehensive approach. There is a need
to revisit both the proposals and do the
necessary upgradation.

55. Need for comprehensive approach for core city area
Following are other reasons why a
comprehensive action plan for core city area is
required
1. DP has proposed commercial space upto
50m on both sides of Lakshmi road.
Increased commercial space will demand
more parking space. Currently no parking
management plan is proposed.
2. There are following ongoing/proposed
projects in the core city area and the
vicinity of Lakshmi road.
a. Metro Stations : Currently there are 7
metro stations proposed in and around the
core city area.
b. Multi-Modal Integration plans in 500 m
radius around these metro stations are
proposed by Maha Metro
c. Pune Cycle Plan 2016 has proposed cycle
routes in the core city area
d. River front development is proposed from
Deccan to Shaniwarwada
All these, and any similar projects need to be
integrated with the core city area proposal. Map showing ongoing/proposed projects in the core city area

56. Way forward

57. 1. Steering committee for core city rejuvenation (chaired by Additional Commissioner)
2. Define objective
3. Form an in-house working group
• Senior urban designer and EE (Road Dept), EE (Building Permission Dept.), with support staff
• Junior UD, JE
• NGO representatives
• Additional staff: 1 Urban Designer, 1 Architect, 1 Urban Economist
4. Hire additional staff as mentioned above
5. Appoint agencies
• Transport and environmental modelling agency (inclusive of survey work)
• Communications and outreach agency (inclusive of stakeholder engagement with PMC)
• Monitoring and evaluation agency
6. Prepare TOR for agencies mentioned above
7. Prepare core city rejuvenation plan
• Selection of study area
• Stakeholder consultations
• Integration of proposed and ongoing projects
• Data collection and analysis
• Modelling
• Prepare proposal options
• On ground testing of Proposal options (over a period)
• Final Proposal