Pune’s burgeoning traffic woes, exacerbated by ongoing metro and flyover projects, have prompted the city’s traffic police to implement a crucial change. A temporary ban on heavy vehicles within the city limits will be enforced starting March 5, aimed at addressing the heightened congestion and ensuring smoother navigation for regular commuters.
Shashikant Borate, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic Branch, highlighted that the experimental ban includes trailers, containers, multi-axle vehicles, and articulated vehicles transporting goods to and from Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Satara, and Mumbai.
Key Changes and Alternative Routes:
- Closure of Access from Wagholi: The 24-hour closure from Pune Nagar Road to Wagholi has been initiated.
- Closure from Hadapsar Noble Hospital Chowk to Kharadi Bypass Chowk: Vehicles from Pune Solapur and Pune Saswad Road will face a 24-hour restriction. Alternative routes have been identified.
- Alternative Routes for Pune Solapur Road: Vehicles should take a right turn from Theur Phata and proceed via Theur, Lonikand, Shikrapur.
- Alternative Routes for Pune Saswad Road: A U-turn at Hadapsar, a left turn at Theur Phata, and travel via Theur, Lonikand, Shikrapur.
Prohibited Entry of Heavy Vehicles (7 to 11 pm) and Alternative Routes:
- Solapur Road to Satara, Mumbai: Left turn at Hadapsar, right turn at Mantarwadi Phata from Saswad Road, right from Khadi Machine Chowk to Katraj Chowk to Satara or Navle Bridge to Mumbai.
- Saswad Road to Solapur: Left turn from Mantarwadi Chowk, following the above route.
- Mumbai to Pune: Left turn at Navale Bridge to Katraj Chowk.
- Satara to Pune: Left turn from Katraj Chowk to Khadi Machine Chowk, Mantarwadi Chowk, left turn towards Solapur via Hadapsar.
24-Hour Entry Closure Points:
- Solapur Road Noble Hospital Chowk.
- Ahmednagar Road Kesnand Phata Wagholi.
- Mumbai Pune Road Harris Bridge.
- Audh Road Rajiv Gandhi Bridge.
- Baner Road Hotel Radha Chowk.
- Pashan Road Ramnagar Junction.
- Sinhagad Road Vadgaon Pul Chowk.
- Satara Road Katraj Chowk.
- Saswad Road (Bopdev Ghat Marg) Khadi Machine Chowk.
- Katraj Mantarwadi Bypass Road Undri Chowk.
- Alandi Road Bopkhel Phata Chowk.
This strategic initiative aims to provide immediate relief to the challenges posed by heavy vehicular traffic, allowing for smoother navigation during Pune’s ongoing infrastructure development. The experimental nature of the ban will enable authorities to assess its effectiveness, leading to informed decisions on long-term traffic management solutions.*
