Pune traffic police have announced temporary road closures, one-way arrangements, parking restrictions and diversions around four major temples during Navratri, beginning Sunday, October 11, to manage crowds and maintain access for emergency vehicles.
The restrictions will cover the Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple area in Budhwar Peth, Shri Chatushrungi Temple on Senapati Bapat Road, Shri Bhavani Mata Temple in Bhawani Peth and Shri Mahalakshmi Temple near Sarasbaug. Traffic police have asked residents and devotees to use alternative routes and avoid parking near the temple premises.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic Branch, Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakre said the road between Appa Balwant Chowk and Budhwar Chowk, also known as Hutatma Chowk, would be closed to traffic from Sunday because of the expected crowd near the Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple. One-way traffic will continue between Budhwar Chowk and Appa Balwant Chowk.
The road from Ganpati Chowk on Laxmi Road to Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple will also remain closed. Vehicles heading towards the temple will not be allowed, except those required for essential services. Parking will be prohibited in the temple area and near the Shri Ashtabhuja Temple area in Shukrawar Peth.
Devotees visiting the Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple have been advised to park their vehicles on the riverside road or at the Mandai parking facility. The parking direction is intended to keep the immediate temple approaches clear as pedestrian movement increases during the festival.
Traffic near Shri Chatushrungi Temple will be diverted if crowd levels rise on Senapati Bapat Road. Under the diversion plan, vehicles may be routed through Vetalbaba Chowk towards Deep Bungalow Chowk and then via Om Super Market. The traffic police have indicated that the diversion will be activated according to local crowd conditions.
Further restrictions will apply around Shri Bhavani Mata Temple in Bhawani Peth. Traffic travelling towards the temple from Nehru Road will be stopped, and parking will not be permitted on the stretch between Nehru Road and the temple area. Additional changes on Nehru Road may be introduced if the crowd increases.
A separate traffic arrangement will be in place near Shri Mahalakshmi Temple at Sarasbaug on Monday, October 12, from 5 am to 7 am for the Shri Sukt 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 be closed.
Vehicles arriving from Mitramandal Chowk have been directed to travel via Savarkar Chowk and Sinhagad Road to reach their destinations. Vehicles approaching Savarkar Chowk via Sinhagad Road have been advised to use Laxminarayan Chowk instead. The restrictions will remain tied to the festival schedule and crowd-management requirements communicated by the traffic police.
