Wagholi, one of Pune’s fastest-growing suburbs, is facing severe traffic congestion as urban expansion outpaces infrastructure development. The Pune–Ahilyanagar Road, which runs through the heart of the area, has turned into a daily bottleneck due to encroachments, narrow lanes, and a lack of internal connecting roads. With the number of vehicles increasing every year, the traffic snarls are now a major civic concern.
The stretch remains choked during morning and evening peak hours, with long queues of vehicles struggling to navigate the narrow lanes. Locals say that the absence of systematic traffic planning and insufficient police manpower under the Lonikand Traffic Division have made the situation worse. Private vehicles and heavy trucks jostle for space, while poor driver discipline and haphazard parking have turned Wagholi’s main roads into accident-prone zones.
Urban mobility experts point out that rapid real estate development in Wagholi has not been supported by matching infrastructure upgrades. While the signal-free road from Yerawada to Kharadi allows vehicles to move swiftly, traffic suddenly slows down beyond the Kharadi exit, where the highway narrows and road design fails to manage the flow. This abrupt change in infrastructure creates a persistent traffic choke point at Wagholi.
Adding to the woes, several internal roads that were expected to distribute traffic have remained incomplete or stalled due to land acquisition delays. Local officials acknowledge that these gaps in planning have significantly increased dependency on the main highway, putting immense pressure on the Pune–Ahilyanagar stretch.The lack of basic infrastructure further compounds the issue. The only crane available with the Lonikand Traffic Division for towing vehicles has been under repair for months. Broken footpaths, wrong-way driving, and missing pedestrian crossings have made the area unsafe for commuters and residents alike.
Urban transport experts and citizen groups have urged authorities to take a multi-pronged approach—developing a bypass around Wagholi, widening the existing highway, improving public transport links, and completing pending internal roads. Proposals for a flyover between Ramwadi and Shirur have also been floated as a long-term solution to streamline vehicular movement.With Wagholi emerging as a key residential and commercial hub, experts believe that improving traffic management here is critical to Pune’s sustainable urban future. A proactive strategy integrating mobility planning, road safety, and green transport initiatives could turn Wagholi into a model for balanced growth rather than a symbol of urban chaos.
Pune’s Wagholi Faces Daily Traffic Chaos From Rapid Urban Growth
