Pune Ganeshotsav traffic changes will close four major roads in the city’s central area to regular vehicles after 5 pm from Friday, September 18, as large crowds are expected to gather to view public Ganpati decorations and tableaux. The restrictions will remain in place until the immersion procession, with traffic police asking motorists to use alternative routes.
The affected roads are Laxmi Road, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Road, Bajirao Road and Tilak Road. The restriction will apply to all vehicles other than those involved in essential services. The roads will remain closed until the crowds disperse, according to the traffic arrangements announced by the Pune traffic police.
The decision follows the expected increase in footfall after the immersion of household Ganpati idols and Gauri idols. Visitors are expected to travel towards the city’s central areas to see decorations and seek darshan of idols installed by public Ganesh mandals. The traffic police said the arrangements had been introduced to manage the expected crowd and maintain movement in areas where pedestrian activity is likely to be concentrated.
Laxmi Road will be closed between Hamzekhan Chowk and Tilak Chowk. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Road will be closed between Gadgil Putla Chowk and Deshbhakt Keshavrao Jedhe Chowk in Swargate. The restricted section of Bajirao Road will run from Puram Chowk to Appa Balwant Chowk, while Tilak Road will be closed between Maratha Chamber of Commerce and Hirabaug Chowk.
The restrictions cover some of central Pune’s key east-west and north-south movement corridors. These roads connect commercial areas, neighbourhoods and major junctions in the old city, making the traffic changes relevant not only to festival visitors but also to residents, shopkeepers, delivery operators and people travelling through the central area. The source report does not provide a detailed list of diversion routes or revised public transport arrangements.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Bhajibhakre of the traffic branch appealed to citizens to use alternative routes. He said traffic arrangements had been changed because of the possibility of crowding in central Pune from Friday evening and that the changes would continue until the immersion procession.
The traffic police have not specified a single daily reopening time. Instead, the affected roads will remain closed after 5 pm until the crowd reduces, while essential-service vehicles will be exempt from the restriction. Motorists travelling towards central Pune during the evening are therefore required to check local traffic instructions and plan for route changes during the festival period.
