Pune traffic diversions and road closures will come into force around four major temples during Navratri, with restrictions affecting central Pune, Senapati Bapat Road, Bhavani Peth and the Sarasbaug area. The changes have been announced by the Pune Traffic Police to manage crowds and maintain the safety of devotees.
The restrictions will cover the areas around Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple, Shri Chatushrungi Temple, Shri Bhavani Mata Temple in Bhavani Peth and Shri Mahalakshmi Temple at Sarasbaug. Police have said that roads in these areas will be closed or rerouted depending on crowd movement.
From Sunday, October 11, 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 on Laxmi Road between Ganpati Chowk and Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple will also remain closed.
The road from the Sakal office towards Shri Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple will be closed to vehicles other than those providing essential services. These restrictions are expected to affect access to the temple area and movement through central Pune, particularly during periods of increased footfall.
Traffic near Shri Chatushrungi Temple on Senapati Bapat Road will also be diverted if crowding increases. In that situation, vehicles will be redirected through Vetalbaba Chowk, Deep Bungalow Chowk and Om Super Market. The traffic police have linked the diversion to crowd levels, indicating that the route change will be activated when conditions require it.
In Bhavani Peth, traffic travelling towards Shri Bhavani Mata Temple from Nehru Road will be stopped. Further changes on Nehru Road will be introduced if the crowd near the temple grows, according to the traffic arrangements announced by the police.
Additional restrictions have been planned around Sarasbaug for the Shri Sukta recitation on Monday, October 12, between 5 am and 7 am. The road from Swargate towards the Swatantryaveer Savarkar statue via Sarasbaug will be closed. The route from Mitramandal Chowk towards Puram Chowk will also be shut during this period.
Vehicles arriving from Mitramandal Chowk have been asked to travel via Savarkar Chowk and Sinhagad Road to reach their destinations. Vehicles approaching Savarkar Chowk on Sinhagad Road have been directed to proceed through Laxminarayan Chowk. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic Branch, Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare, has appealed to motorists to follow the diversion instructions during the festival arrangements.
