The Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway are expected to see heavy traffic through Tuesday as pilgrims travel for Shri Ekvira Devi Navratri and an extended holiday period brings more vehicles onto the routes. Pune traffic police have urged people to use public transport and avoid travel where possible during the busiest days.
The Pune district administration has diverted and restricted heavy and large vehicles on sections of the old highway to prevent congestion near the temple at the foothills of Karla. An order issued by the district collector under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, prohibits the entry of such vehicles around the clock between Karla Phata and the foothill temple of Shri Ekvira Devi until October 20.
A separate restriction will apply from October 15 to 19, between 6am and 10pm, on the old Mumbai-Pune highway between Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza in Lonavla and Vadgaon Phata in Vadgaon Maval. Vehicle operators have been advised to use the Pune-Mumbai Expressway through the Urse toll plaza as an alternative route.
The diversion is expected to increase traffic on the Mumbai-Lonavala stretch of the expressway. Heavy vehicles travelling between Chakan, Talegaon and Mumbai will be redirected to the expressway, while vehicles travelling towards Pune on the old highway will be diverted from Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza through the expressway and Urse toll plaza. Those travelling towards Mumbai will be diverted from Talegaon Phata in Vadgaon through Urse Ghat and onto the expressway.
Shivaji Pawar, superintendent of police for the Highway Traffic Police, Pune range, said 50 of the department’s 60 personnel would be deployed on the ground during the weekend. Personnel from Pune Rural Police stations will also assist with traffic management. Pawar said the police had discussed the arrangements with Pune Rural Police and were imposing fines on heavy vehicles that failed to follow lane discipline.
The police expect the rush to be particularly heavy during the weekend and towards the final days of Navratra, when pilgrims are expected to arrive in large numbers. Pawar urged residents to travel by rail or public transport and to postpone non-essential journeys during the peak period.
The extended holiday around Dasara is expected to add to travel demand, with some workers taking leave on Monday and Tuesday or working from home. Vijay Pandey, a businessman from Borivali, told the Times of India that he and his partner had decided to book Vande Bharat tickets instead of driving to Pune because they did not want to be delayed on the highway.
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. The traffic restrictions and diversions will remain in force according to the collector’s order, with enforcement and police deployment continuing through the festival period.
