Pune is preparing for the grand Ganeshotsav celebrations starting Wednesday, September 27, with authorities rolling out comprehensive measures to manage traffic, parking, and public transport. City officials have announced traffic diversions across central and suburban areas, dedicated parking zones, extended metro services, and enhanced policing to ensure smooth movement for devotees and residents. The civic planning reflects a coordinated effort to balance festival fervour with urban mobility and public safety.
Traffic diversions will affect key city roads from September 27 to October 6. Shivaji Road will see a complete vehicular closure from Gadital Putla Chowk to Gotiram Bhaiyya Chowk, with alternative routes provided through Santaji Ghorpade Path, Kumbharves Chowk, and Sahir Amar Shaikh Chowk. Traffic from Shivajinagar via Jangali Maharaj Road towards Swargate will be rerouted at SG Barve Chowk, while Khude Chowk traffic will be redirected through Mangla Talkies and Kumbharves Chowk. Similarly, areas from Savarkar Putla Chowk to Samadhan Bhel Centre on Sinhgad Road will see no-parking restrictions, with designated parking available at Mitramandal Chowk, Jamnalal Bajaj Putla, Neelayam Bridge, and other strategic points.
In Keshavnagar and Mundhwa, vehicles will be diverted along Gairan Vasti Road, Renuka Mata Mandir, and Manjari Road. Key junctions including Phadke Houd Chowk to Jijamata Chowk, Appa Balwant Chowk to Budhwar Chowk, and Mangla Talkies to Premier Garage Lane will remain closed for traffic during festival days. Special parking arrangements have been made for vehicles transporting Ganesh idols at Kamgar Putala Chowk, PMC Bill Centre, Tilak Bridge, Mandai’s Minerva, Aryan Parking Centre, and Shahu Chowk. PMPML buses will follow revised routes to bypass congested zones, including rerouting via SG Barve Chowk, Jangali Maharaj Road, Tilak Chowk, and Shastri Road. Heavy vehicles are banned on major thoroughfares, including Shastri Road, Tilak Road, Kumthekar Road, Laxmi Road, Kelkar Road, Bajirao Road, Shivaji Road, Karve Road, Fergusson College Road, Jangali Maharaj Road, Sinhgad Road, and Ganeshkhind Road, to reduce congestion and ensure festival safety.
Pune Metro will extend service hours, operating from 6 am to 2 am during peak festival days, with continuous 41-hour service planned on Anant Chaturdashi. This move is aimed at facilitating smooth commuter flow and reducing traffic pressure on city roads. To further enhance safety, 11 dedicated police teams will monitor roads, streetlights, and civic facilities, coordinating with Pune Municipal Corporation officers for prompt action. A special workforce of around 100 officials has been deployed to survey festival routes, repair potholes, restore faulty streetlights, and ensure CCTV cameras are functional. These measures are part of a broader strategy to maintain public safety and smooth traffic during one of Pune’s largest cultural events.
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