The Pune-Ahilyanagar Highway traffic jam continued for a third consecutive day on Saturday, with vehicle queues stretching up to 12 kilometres between Wagholi, Sanaswadi, Shikrapur, Ranjangaon and Shirur, disrupting travel towards Ahilyanagar during the Diwali holiday rush.
According to a report by Sakal – Pune, traffic moving from Pune towards Ahilyanagar was almost at a standstill at several points. Long lines of vehicles were reported from Wagholi towards Sanaswadi, Shikrapur and Ranjangaon, with the impact extending up to Shirur. Commuters travelling to their native places said the journey, which began as part of the Diwali holiday period, had become significantly longer and more difficult because of the congestion.
The Pune-Ahilyanagar Highway is an important route for people travelling from Pune and Mumbai towards parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha. The increase in holiday travel has placed additional pressure on the corridor, particularly because this year’s Diwali holidays have coincided with the weekend, encouraging more people to begin their journeys at the same time.
Traffic volumes have remained high for the past three days, according to the report. Wagholi and Shikrapur are frequently affected by congestion on the highway, while the movement of vehicles during the festive period has made the delays more severe. Traffic has also slowed around Sanaswadi and Ranjangaon, creating a wider impact for travellers heading towards Shirur.
The congestion is affecting both the efficiency of the regional road network and the experience of holiday travellers. Motorists have been forced to remain on the highway for hours, with the extended travel time affecting families and other passengers attempting to reach their hometowns for Diwali. The disruption also highlights the pressure placed on an important inter-city corridor when a large number of private vehicles enter the road network within a short period.
The affected stretch connects expanding settlements and industrial areas east of Pune, including Wagholi, Shikrapur, Sanaswadi and Ranjangaon. These locations already carry regular local, commercial and inter-city traffic, meaning festival travel is being added to an existing flow of vehicles. The report did not provide details of a specific crash, road closure or diversion causing the congestion.
With the traffic jam continuing into its third day, travellers using the Pune-Ahilyanagar route are facing prolonged delays between Pune and Shirur. The report did not specify when traffic conditions are expected to return to normal or announce any new traffic-management measures.
