Heavy vehicle restrictions have been announced around Katraj Chowk in Pune as underground metro construction continues between Swargate and Katraj, with traffic police directing dumpers, cement mixers, trailers and containers to use alternative routes.
The changes are intended to keep traffic moving through Katraj Chowk during the construction work, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare. The traffic branch has asked heavy and oversized vehicles to avoid Katraj Chowk and follow designated diversion routes.
Vehicles approaching Katraj through the old Katraj tunnel on the Pune–Satara Highway will be stopped from entering at Shindewadi. Vehicles travelling towards Katraj from Satara Road through the new tunnel will face a restriction at Navale Bridge. Heavy vehicles coming from the Warje section of the Mumbai–Bengaluru bypass towards Katraj will also be stopped at Navale Bridge.
Vehicles travelling from Solapur towards Katraj through Hadapsar, Manterwadi and the Katraj–Kondhwa Road will not be allowed to proceed beyond Manterwadi Chowk. A similar restriction will apply to heavy vehicles approaching Katraj through the Katraj–Kondhwa Road from the Bopdev Ghat route. Vehicles coming from Market Yard, Ganga Dham and Bibwewadi towards Katraj will also be diverted.
Traffic travelling from Swargate towards Katraj Chowk will not be permitted to enter the junction. The traffic branch has advised heavy and oversized vehicles to use routes through Navale Bridge, the new Katraj tunnel, Khed Shivapur, Saswad, Garade, Chimbli, Manterwadi and Wadki. Another listed alternative runs through Navale Bridge, the new Katraj tunnel, Khed Shivapur, Garade, Bhivri, Bopdev Ghat, Yewalewadi, Pisoli and Manterwadi.
The restrictions also cover passenger movement. State Transport buses and passenger vehicles travelling from Satara towards Swargate have been instructed to turn right in the Navale Bridge area and travel towards Swargate through Katraj. Residents travelling from Katraj towards Swargate have been asked to avoid Katraj Chowk and use alternative roads.
The traffic branch has separately prohibited parking on both sides of the road between Wonder City Society and Katraj Bypass Chowk, between Katraj Bypass Chowk and More Baug, and along the stretches from Katraj Bypass Chowk to Rajash Society and from the bypass junction to the old Katraj tunnel. The restrictions are linked to the ongoing metro construction and are intended to prevent parked vehicles from further narrowing the affected corridors.
