The onset of the monsoon season brought with it a surge of visitors to Sinhagad Fort and the Khadakwasla dam area, two of Pune’s most beloved weekend destinations.
However, the influx of tourists led to severe traffic congestion, leaving many commuters and visitors stranded for hours. By late Sunday afternoon, vehicles were at a standstill from Donje to Khadakwasla, with some travelers reporting delays exceeding three hours. The narrow, winding stretch of Sinhagad Road, which connects these popular spots to the city, proved inadequate to handle the volume of traffic. The situation was particularly challenging for families with children, elderly individuals, and women, many of whom had limited access to water and restroom facilities during the ordeal. Local residents and daily commuters expressed frustration over the recurring traffic jams, which have become a common occurrence during weekends and public holidays. “This happens every year, and still no action is taken. Authorities need to create alternate routes or better traffic flow measures,” said one commuter caught in the jam.
Despite previous efforts to alleviate congestion, such as the construction of new flyovers along Sinhagad Road, the traffic woes persist. The flyovers, which were expected to ease bottlenecks, have merely shifted the congestion to other areas, such as the Wadgaon Bridge signal, where traffic now gets gridlocked due to inadequate road infrastructure and signal timing issues. In response to the growing concerns, local lawmakers have urged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to expedite infrastructure improvements. Recently, the PMRDA received tenders from three firms to prepare a pre-feasibility report for the proposed 20 km Yerawada-Katraj twin tunnel project, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion between northern and southern Pune. The project, estimated to cost Rs 400 crore per kilometre, will support bidirectional traffic and is expected to ease pressure on Sinhagad Road once completed.
Additionally, PMC officials have been instructed to expedite ongoing civic works, including road repairs and resurfacing, with a deadline set for May 31. Contractors have been warned that strict legal action will be taken if the works are not completed before the monsoon season and any untoward incidents occur. As the monsoon season progresses and weekend footfalls are expected to rise further, residents are urging the Pune administration to take proactive measures to avoid such gridlocks and ensure the safety and comfort of the public. Without significant improvements to the city’s infrastructure, the weekend traffic chaos is likely to continue, disrupting the plans of countless visitors and residents alike.
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