Pune traffic was severely disrupted on Sinhagad Road on Friday morning after excavation work began in the Ganeshmala area without prior notice, leaving long queues between Dhayari, Dandekar Bridge and Rajaram Bridge, according to a report by Sakal – Pune.
The disruption affected vehicles travelling from Dhayari towards Dandekar Bridge and Rajaram Bridge. Traffic moved slowly as the excavation work coincided with the morning rush, when residents were leaving for work. Commuters had to wait for extended periods to move through the affected stretch.
The report said the work was undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation. It did not provide details of the project for which the excavation was being carried out, the agency or contractor executing it, or the expected duration of the work. The absence of advance information left commuters without an opportunity to plan alternate routes.
Residents expressed anger over the timing of the work and questioned why excavation was being carried out during peak traffic hours. They also said that prior notice should have been issued before the road was disturbed, particularly on a corridor that regularly carries substantial traffic between western Pune neighbourhoods and the city’s inner areas.
The immediate disruption reflects a recurring operational problem on urban roads: road and utility works can affect traffic far beyond the exact location of excavation. On Sinhagad Road, queues formed on the approach between Dhayari and the bridges, indicating that reduced road capacity at the work site had consequences along the wider corridor. The supplied report did not specify whether traffic police or municipal officials had announced diversions or deployed additional traffic management measures.
Residents also pointed to earlier instances of congestion on Sinhagad Road and questioned whether traffic conditions are being considered while scheduling municipal works. Their demand was for excavation to be planned outside peak hours and for commuters to be informed in advance. Such information is particularly important on routes where a sudden reduction in carriageway space can slow traffic for vehicles well beyond the work zone.
The report did not state when the excavation began beyond identifying Friday morning, nor did it confirm when the affected section would be restored. It also did not provide an official response from the Pune Municipal Corporation or details of any revised work schedule. The next relevant update will be the civic agency’s clarification on the purpose, duration and traffic-management arrangements for the Ganeshmala excavation.
