Pune: To manage heavy traffic and crowds during the ongoing Ganeshotsav, the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police have both announced road closures, traffic diversions, and parking arrangements until Sept 6, the last day of the festival. In the old city areas of Pune, all major routes will remain closed to traffic after 5 pm until the crowd disperses, with alternative arrangements provided. These include stretches along Tilak Road (Maratha Chambers to Hirabaug Chowk), Laxmi Road (Hamzekhan Chowk to Tilak Chowk), Shivaji Road (Gadgil Statue to Jedhe Chowk), and Bajirao Road (Puram Chowk to Appa Balwant Chowk). Many areas such as Shivaji Road, Bajirao Road, Mandai to Shanipar Chowk, and Appa Balwant Chowk to Budhwar Chowk will be no-parking zones. The police have identified 27 parking lots for vehicles, while tourist bus stops have been restricted in the area, with halts allowed only near Sanewadi, RTO, and Swargate. Traffic on connecting stretches such as Kumthekar Road, Sadashiv Peth, Phadke Haud Road, Sinhagad Garage to Manapa Chowk, and Kohinoor Hotel to Bhagwan Mahavir Chowk will also be restricted or diverted as needed by the police. “I think it is best to avoid taking your vehicle to these crowded areas and use the Metro or public bus transport. I visited Ganapati mandals in the old city area on Sunday using a metro from Vanaz. The train was crowded, but the old city area was very crowded. My family and I had a good time walking around. There is also heavy police presence everywhere,” said Pratibha Singh, a businesswoman. The Pimpri Chinchwad police have also announced that procession routes leading to the main immersion ghats in areas including Pimpri, Chinchwad, Bhosari, Hinjewadi, Wakad, Sangvi, and Talegaon, will face traffic restrictions and diversions on Sept 6. “We know there will be traffic restrictions. But it will be great if the Pimpri Chinchwad police post these diversions on their social media handles so that it is easier to decide our routes. We saw that Pune traffic police have done this and accordingly, we visited the Manache Ganapati pandals in old city areas. However, we were unable to find anything on the Pimpri Chinchwad side,” said a resident from Wakad. Both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police have urged citizens to avoid roadside parking, use only designated lots, and rely on public transport wherever possible so that emergency services are not hampered due to crowd or traffic issues.Some designated parking spaces: – (For two-wheelers) New English School Ramanbaug, Gogate Prashala, Peshwe Park Sarasbaug, in front of Harjeevan Hospital, Patil Plaza parking, Parvati to Dandekar Pul, Dandekar Pul to Ganeshmala, Ganeshmala to Rajaram Pul, Vimlabai Garware High School, Apte Prashala, Marathwada College, Peshwe Path, Congress House Road – (For two- and four-wheelers) Shivaji Akhada bus depot, SSPMS Shivajinagar, Nilayam Talkies, Sanjivani Medical College ground, Jain Hostel on BMCC Road, Ranade Path, Abasaheb Garware College, New English School Tilak Road, Hamalwada, SP College, Fergusson College ground, Nadi Patra from Bhide Pul to Gadgil Pul – (For four-wheelers) PMPML ground near Puram Chowk
