Pune traffic jam conditions worsened across the city’s central shopping districts on Saturday as Diwali shoppers crowded markets around Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road and Kelkar Road, leaving long vehicle queues and slowing traffic on several major routes, according to a report by Sakal – Pune.
The congestion was reported throughout the day as residents travelled to central markets to buy clothes, jewellery, festive decorations, food items and other Diwali essentials. The increase in shoppers and vehicles placed additional pressure on roads that already carry significant traffic through Pune’s central areas.
Traffic movement was particularly slow along the Laxmi Road stretch between Phadke Haud and Lal Mahal Chowk, as well as between Quarter Gate Chowk and Tilak Chowk. Vehicle queues were also reported on Kumthekar Road and Kelkar Road. Traffic on Fergusson Road, Jungli Maharaj Road and Tilak Road was moving slowly as congestion spread beyond the immediate market areas.
The disruption was compounded by vehicles entering roads despite no-entry restrictions, vehicles parked on both sides of the road and cars left in no-parking zones, the report said. These practices reduced the carriageway available for moving traffic and made it difficult for vehicles to pass through already crowded stretches.
Double parking was reported on several roads in the central area. Vehicles parked along road edges and outside shops further narrowed the available space, while violations of no-entry rules added to the movement problems. Congestion at one location also affected adjoining roads, creating a wider slowdown across the central network.
The traffic pressure was closely linked to the concentration of shops and shoppers in the market districts. Crowds gathered outside stores, while roadside parking added to the strain on traffic management. Unlike a disruption confined to one junction, the reported congestion extended across a connected group of commercial roads, affecting access to and movement through Pune’s central shopping areas.
Residents have called for additional traffic police deployment around major markets during the Diwali shopping period. They have also sought stronger enforcement of no-parking and no-entry restrictions, along with vehicle regulation wherever possible. The requests come as shopping activity is expected to remain high over the coming days, according to the report.
The immediate response sought from traffic authorities is tighter enforcement around market approaches, action against vehicles parked in restricted areas and regulation of vehicle movement on the busiest central routes. The report did not provide details of any specific traffic diversion plan or additional deployment announced by the authorities.
