In a bid to alleviate severe traffic problems caused by heavy vehicles attempting to shorten their routes through the city, Pune City Traffic Police has implemented a 24-hour ban on the entry of heavy vehicles at 12 crucial entry points. The prohibition covers containers, articulated vehicles, trailers, and axle trucks, aiming to streamline traffic flow.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Shashikant Borate, the decision to enforce stricter regulations was prompted by the observation of heavy vehicles navigating through city limits to cut down on travel distance, resulting in significant traffic disruptions at multiple locations.
The 12 entry points where heavy vehicles are strictly prohibited include Noble Hospital Square on Solapur Road, Kesnand Phata on Ahmednagar Road, Harris Bridge on Mumbai-Pune Old Highway, Rajiv Gandhi Bridge on Aundh, Hotel Radha Chowk on Baner Road, Chandini Chowk on Paud Road, Vadgaon Bridge Chowk on Sinhagad Road, Katraj Chowk on Satara Road, Khadi Machine Chowk on Katraj Mantarwadi Bypass Road, and Bopkhel Phata Chowk on Alandi Road.
Heavy vehicles will be permitted to commute on these routes only between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM. To ensure smooth traffic diversion, alternative routes have been designated for the prohibited areas. Vehicles traveling from Solapur to Satara will be rerouted via Hadapsar, Saswad Road, Mantarwadi Phata, Khadi Machine Chowk, Katraj Chowk, and Navale Bridge. Pune-Solapur Road traffic will be diverted through Theur Phata, Lonikand, and Shikrapur. Vehicles on the Pune-Ahmednagar Highway will be rerouted via Shikrapur, Chakan, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Talegaon Dabhade.
As Pune undergoes rapid development, with major projects like the Metro construction, traffic congestion has emerged as a significant challenge. Areas such as Satara Chowk and Undri Chowk experience substantial traffic jams during peak evening hours, causing delays for commuters.
