traffic restrictions
Pune: Police have announced sweeping traffic restrictions and diversions across the city for the Ganesh immersion procession on Friday, with seven major roads set to remain closed, traffic diversions at multiple junctions and a 48-hour ban on the entry of heavy vehicles. All heavy vehicles will be prohibited from entering Pune city from midnight on Sept 25 till midnight on Sept 26. To facilitate devotees attending the immersion procession, police have earmarked around 26 parking locations across the central city. Pimpri Chinchwad traffic police have also announced temporary diversions on Sept 24 and 25. Massive police deployment For the immersion festivities, Pune police have deployed a substantial security arrangement comprising six deputy commissioners of police, nine assistant commissioners of police, 64 inspectors, 291 assistant inspectors/sub-inspectors, 17 striking force units, four riot control squads, 2,355 police personnel, and 550 home guards to ensure smooth traffic movement, effective crowd management, and public safety during one of Pune’s largest annual religious processions.
Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vikrant Deshmukh said the restrictions would be enforced dynamically depending on the movement and size of immersion processions. Police have identified diversion points on JM Road, Shivaji Road, routes along the Mula-Mutha riverfront, Laxmi Road, Solapur Road, Satara Road, Bajirao Road, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Karve Road and FC Road. Traffic will be rerouted from these locations as and when required. Traffic police have appealed to operators of goods vehicles and transporters to avoid entering the city during the restriction period to prevent congestion along immersion routes. Designated parking areas include New English School, Gogate Prashala, Shivaji Akhada parking lot, DES College, near Patraya Maruti Chowk, AISSMS College ground, SP College, PMPML ground at Puram Chowk, Peshwe Park, Harjivan Hospital, Patil Plaza, Parvati-Dandekar Bridge stretch, Rajaram Bridge, Nilayam Talkies, BMCC ground, Garware College, Sanjeevani Medical College, Fergusson College, Jain Hostel, Marathwada College, Congress Bhavan, New English School and select riverbed parking zones. Key restrictions will be enforced in Bhosari, Wakad, Nigdi, Hinjewadi and Pimpri.