Panvel | September 11, 2026 — Panvel city traffic police have introduced parking restrictions, route diversions, barricading and encroachment action for Ganeshotsav to prevent congestion in the market area, while deploying 70 traffic personnel and seven officers for crowd and vehicle management.
The traffic police have appealed to residents and visitors not to park vehicles on roads and to use designated temporary parking spaces. The identified locations include the Marathi school opposite Phadke Natyagruha, the new tehsil office, areas behind and in front of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Tपाल Naka, a site near Karnala Circle, land belonging to Vilas Kothari on Line Ali Road and an open space opposite the D.Ed. College behind the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue.
Some of the proposed parking areas had not been cleaned by the Panvel Municipal Corporation when the traffic arrangements began, prompting questions from residents about when the temporary facilities would be made operational. The traffic police have said that one-way traffic, alternate-day parking arrangements and barricading will be introduced wherever required.
Under the plan, heavy and oversized vehicles carrying or unloading goods for traders in the Uran Naka–Tपाल Naka stretch will be permitted to operate between 1 pm and 4 pm. The traffic police have also begun removing roadside obstructions, including flower and vegetable stalls, waste and materials placed along roads and footpaths.
The action was initiated by traffic police on Friday morning, although responsibility for removing roadside encroachments rests with the municipal corporation. After the issue was brought to the attention of municipal additional commissioner Maheshkumar Meghmale, he directed ward officers to send teams to the area and take action.
The Uran Naka–Tपाल Naka route will be closed to autorickshaws and four-wheelers, with affected vehicles diverted through Uran Naka and Panchratna Circle. The route from the flower market to the police chowky via Patel Hospital will also be closed. In addition, the Karnala flower market–Karmaveer Bhaurao Chowk route will remain closed to traffic during the festival period.
The traffic police said alternative space has been provided for flower and leafy vegetable sellers on the Karnala foot market–Karmaveer Bhaurao Chowk stretch after the route is closed. The arrangement is intended to reduce crowding in the market and help prevent thefts in congested areas.
Senior Police Inspector Subhash Pujari of the Panvel City Traffic Branch said he and his personnel were taking action on the roads and urged citizens to use only the parking spaces designated by the administration. The Navi Mumbai police have also sought 50 additional wardens from the Panvel Municipal Corporation for Ganeshotsav traffic management.
