The Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway are expected to face heavy traffic through Tuesday as pilgrims and holiday travellers head towards the Shri Ekvira Devi temple during Navratri and the extended Dasara weekend. Police have asked commuters to use public transport where possible, while heavy vehicles are being diverted to manage congestion.
The Pune district administration has restricted the movement of heavy and large vehicles on key stretches of the old highway. Under an order issued by the district collector on Tuesday under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, such vehicles cannot enter the stretch between Karla Phata and the foothill temple of Shri Ekvira Devi around the clock until October 20.
A separate restriction will apply from October 15 to 19 between 6 am and 10 pm on the old Mumbai-Pune highway between Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza in Lonavala and Vadgaon Phata in Vadgaon Maval. Operators of heavy vehicles have been advised to use the Pune-Mumbai Expressway through the Urse toll plaza instead.
The diversions are intended to reduce congestion near the temple during the Shri Ekvira Devi Navratri festival. The restrictions coincide with a period of increased travel, with Dasara falling on Tuesday and some residents expected to take leave on Monday or work from home to create an extended holiday period.
According to highway traffic police, heavy vehicles travelling between Chakan and Talegaon and Mumbai will be diverted to the expressway. This is expected to increase vehicle movement on the Mumbai-Lonavala section of the expressway. Highway police have increased patrolling and are monitoring lane discipline, particularly to prevent heavy vehicles from occupying the first two lanes.
Shivaji Pawar, superintendent of police, Highway Traffic Police, Pune range, said 50 of the department’s total strength of 60 would be deployed on the ground during the weekend. Personnel from Pune Rural Police stations will also assist with traffic management, he said. Pawar urged people to avoid travel if it was not necessary during the busiest days and said authorities were hoping that more commuters would use railways and public transport.
Police have also been imposing fines on heavy vehicles that fail to follow lane discipline. As per the collector’s order, heavy vehicles travelling towards Pune on the old highway will be diverted from Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza in Lonavala onto the expressway before continuing towards Pune city through the Urse toll plaza. Vehicles travelling towards Mumbai will be diverted from Talegaon Phata in Vadgaon through Urse Ghat and onto the expressway.
Height barriers have been installed at Karla Phata to prevent heavy and large vehicles from proceeding towards the Shri Ekvira Devi temple during the restricted period. Travellers using the Pune-Mumbai corridor have been advised to plan journeys around the restrictions and consider rail travel or other public transport during the expected rush.
