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IndianExpress:  Even as Pune reels under the pressure of burgeoning traffic, experts feel the city needs an Urban Transport Project, along the lines of the one in Mumbai, where the attempt would be to integrate various modes of transport.

There is a dire need to provide enhanced mobility in the city and for this to materialise, besides improving the bus service, frequency of suburban trains too needed to be scaled up, they said.

Pointing out that the city’s transport infrastructure was on the verge of crumbling, renowned transportation expert Arun Mokashi said, “The need to upgrade transportation network in the city has been neglected for years. No comprehensive report on traffic scenario has been prepared since 1983. Some updates have been made but they cover only a small part of the drastic changes the city’s traffic has undergone. There is an urgent need for Pune Urban Transport Project to integrate various modes of transport.’’

IndianExpress: Two separate incidents of in-laws harassing women have been reported in the jurisdiction of Pune city and rural police.

In the first case, the victim committed suicide while in the second case, the complainant has said she was set on fire by her mother-in-law.

In the first case, the deceased’s brother has lodged a complaint saying that his sister was forced to commit suicide. Deepak Khushalchandji Gugale (31), a resident of Konark Garden, Bibvewadi in a complaint lodged with Sahakarnagar police said that his sister Jyoti Sunil Lalji Soda (30) was forced to commit suicide after being allegedly harassed by her husband Sunil Lalji Champa Lalji Soda and in-laws Anil Lalji Soda,Surekha Prakash Gandhi and Prakash Shantilal Gandhi. According to the police, Jyoti was repeatedly harassed both mentally and physically by her in-laws which forced her to take the extreme step of ending her life on November 15. Jyoti’s in-law’s harassed her on the pretext of not being treated properly during the reception function of her marriage. Jyoti hanged herself with a rope attached to a ceiling fan. No arrests have been made so far.

IndianExpress: In a move that might ensure better roads, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has set up a benchmark index for construction and resurfacing of roads, backed by a laboratory.

Speaking at the inauguration of the laboratory at PMC’s Yerawada hot mix plant on Friday, Municipal Commissioner Nitin Kareer said the civic administration would prepare a road inventory of all city roads. Moreover, three types of tests would be conducted on roads to identify the roughness index, base of strength and pavement condition index (PCI).

The tests would cover all 1,800-km roads. “Preventive maintenance is more important. If maintenance for the road is due, it should be carried out immediately. If delayed, the cost of maintenance could shoot up,” Kareer said.

IndianExpress:  Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) soft-launched its Triple-Play broadband service of voice, data and video in Pune on Saturday.

Once operational, customers can use the phone, surf the internet and watch cable TV on the same telephone line with a broadband modem/ set top box.

Scientist Vijay Bhatkar, who has a big role in the project, said, “After Param, this is the biggest development for India.’’ With the launch of the new service, BSNL is hoping to target 1.5 million customers in the next 5 years.

Next week, a team of BSNL technical experts will visit the city to test and check the system. BSNL officials said those with existing broadband connection will be able to get the service by early February.

IndianExpress: The wet spells that the city has been witnessing since Wednesday is likely to continue for two more days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain or thunder showers for the next 48 hours with the minimum temperature hovering around 21 degrees Celsius.

The wet spell was a result of a low trough over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the cyclonic circulation extending over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea, officials said.

According to IMD officials, the city recorded 4.8 mm of rainfall on Friday night. However, no rainfall was recorded in the city since 8.30 am on Saturday, they added.

TechTree: Taiwan-based Genius has announced its MP3-DJ Elite, which is ‘an acoustic genius’ that elevates the music experience to the next new level, and provides great listening pleasure in the outdoors as well.

The MP3-DJ Elite is extremely lightweight, weighing only 30gms, which makes it ethereal. MP3 - DJ Elite is crafted in a bright Black color body, and adorned with an electroplated button to give it a sleek look. It comes with a stylish carry bag made with Deluxe Velvet. The four line white OLED display brings the ease to fore, and allows easy reading, even in the dark.

Sandeep Ramani, Country Manager of KYE Systems India, said, “It is a state-of-art product and we are sure its going to be received very well in the market. We are highly pleased to offer such a wonderful product like MP3-DJ Elite that is a great mobile music player very likely to capture the imagination of the people with its unique features and hi-fi acoustic experience. The product will be available in the country within seven days.”