Nashik traffic diversions and road closures will be in force around the Kalika temple and other religious sites from October 11 to 20 for the annual Kalikadevi Navaratra fair, with the city police also revising routes for additional state transport buses serving devotees travelling to Saptashrungi Gad.
The road between Gadkari Signal and Hotel Ruchi, in front of the Kalika temple at Mumbai Naka, will remain closed to all vehicles during the period. The stretch between Chandak Circle and Hotel Sandeep will also be closed, except to two-wheelers, according to the traffic arrangements announced by Nashik police.
Motorists travelling through Mumbai Naka can use either the Mumbai Naka–Ruchi Hotel–SSK Hotel–Chandak Circle route or the Mumbai Naka–Madina Chowk–Sarda Circle–Shingada Talav–Gadkari Chowk route. Commuters travelling to or from Nashik Road and Indiranagar have been advised to use the MICO Circle–Seble Furniture–Milindnagar Slum–RD Circle–Indiranagar tunnel route or the ABB Circle–CCM Signal–RD Signal–Indiranagar tunnel route.
The restrictions will also alter the movement of city and state transport buses. Buses leaving Mahamarg Bus Stand will exit through the gate opposite Hotel Ruchi, turn left towards Suyash Hospital and continue via SSK Hotel, Chandak Circle, Gadkari Signal, Sarda Circle and Madina Chowk before reaching Mumbai Naka junction.
All city and state transport buses travelling towards Nashik Road, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Road and Dhule Road will be diverted through Trimbak Naka, Khadkali, Sarda Circle, Madina Chowk and Mumbai Naka. Buses operating from the Central Bus Stand to Saptashrungi Gad are exempt from this diversion arrangement.
Separate restrictions will be imposed near the Renukadevi temple in Bhagur. Rest Camp Road in Deolali Camp and the road between Kendriya Vidyalaya and Joshi Hospital will remain closed from 2pm to midnight between October 11 and 20. Motorists using these areas have been advised to follow alternate routes.
The police have also issued a revised traffic notification for special Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses operating from the New CBS, or Thakkar, Bus Stand. Around 250 additional ST buses will run every day for devotees travelling to Saptashrungi Gad during the Navratri period.
Under the revised plan, buses travelling to Saptashrungi Gad will use Meher Signal, Ashok Stambh, Raviwar Karanja, Panchavati Karanja and Dindori Naka. On the return journey, they will follow the Dindori Naka–Panchavati Karanja–Raviwar Karanja–Sangli Bank Signal–Shalimar–Khadkali Signal–Trimbak Naka Signal route to reach New CBS.
The traffic measures cover both local vehicle movement near the temples and the higher volume of public transport expected on routes connecting Nashik with Saptashrungi Gad. The revised arrangements will remain applicable through October 20 for the temple-area restrictions, while the special bus notification will operate from October 9 to 26.
