Pune traffic police have announced road closures and diversions around major temples for Navratri celebrations, with restrictions affecting central Pune routes from Sunday, October 11, and additional changes near Sarasbaug on Monday morning.
The measures cover the areas around Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple, Shri Chaturshringi Temple, Shri Bhavani Mata Temple in Bhavani Peth and Shri Mahalakshmi Temple at Sarasbaug. The traffic changes have been announced to manage vehicle movement and maintain safety during the festival period.
From Sunday, the road between Appa Balwant Chowk and Budhwar Chowk, also known as Hutatma Chowk, will be closed to traffic. One-way traffic will continue between Budhwar Chowk and Appa Balwant Chowk. The stretch between Ganpati Chowk on Laxmi Road and Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple will also remain closed.
The road leading from the Sakal office towards Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple will be closed to vehicles other than those providing essential services. The restrictions will affect access to one of the city’s prominent festival locations, where pedestrian and visitor movement is expected around the temple.
Traffic arrangements have also been outlined for the Shri Chaturshringi Temple area on Senapati Bapat Road. If crowds increase, traffic on Senapati Bapat Road will be diverted through Vetalbaba Chowk, Deep Bungalow Chowk and Om Super Market.
In Bhavani Peth, traffic travelling towards Shri Bhavani Mata Temple through Nehru Road will be closed. Further changes to traffic movement on Nehru Road will be made if crowd levels increase, according to the announcement reported by Sakal.
A separate set of restrictions will be implemented at Sarasbaug on Monday, October 12, between 5 am and 7 am for the Sri Sukta recitation. The road from Swargate through Sarasbaug towards the Swatantryaveer Savarkar statue will be closed during this period. The route from Mitramandal Chowk towards Puram Chowk will also remain closed.
Vehicles coming from Mitramandal Chowk have been advised to travel from Savarkar Chowk via Sinhagad Road to reach their destinations. Vehicles approaching Savarkar Chowk on Sinhagad Road have been advised to use Laxminarayan Chowk instead.
The traffic branch’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare, issued the route guidance and appealed to motorists to follow the diversions. The restrictions will remain linked to the scheduled festival activities and crowd conditions at the affected temple areas.
