Kolhapur Residents Demand Immediate Diversion of Highway Traffic Over Safety Concerns
Residents of the Budhwar Peth area in Kolhapur city have issued a strong demand for the diversion of Nagpur-Ratnagiri highway traffic, which currently navigates through a narrow road within the city limits. This persistent issue has led to frequent accidents and severe traffic congestion, causing extreme inconvenience to local inhabitants.
Growing Safety Threats and Community Frustration
The situation has been exacerbated by vehicles transporting sugar cane that regularly use this stretch, compounding existing problems and creating hazardous conditions. Frustrated residents have warned that they will launch a protest against what they describe as dangerous traffic patterns if immediate action is not taken.
A community meeting was convened at the Juna Budhwar Talim Hall on Monday evening to address these pressing concerns. During the gathering, residents emphasized that constructing a proposed ring road between Shivaji Bridge and Khanvilkar Chowk would significantly reduce traffic movement throughout the city.
Recent Accidents Highlight Urgent Need for Intervention
Former mayor advocate Mahadevrao Adgule provided alarming details about recent incidents, stating, "In the past two months alone, there have been two serious accidents on the main road in Juna Budhwar Peth. Just four days ago, a tractor trolley transporting sugar cane overturned during early morning hours, causing a pipeline valve to burst."
Adgule further highlighted existing infrastructure proposals, noting, "A flyover is proposed from the Tawde Hotel entrance to Shivaji Bridge. This flyover should be constructed immediately, and the dangerous traffic movement through the city should be diverted via ring roads to ensure public safety."
Community Leaders Outline Specific Problems and Solutions
Juna Budhwar Peth talim president Ranjit Shinde elaborated on the specific challenges, explaining, "There is a narrow road from CPR Chowk to Chhatrapati Shivaji Bridge on the Nagpur-Ratnagiri highway that passes directly through our city. This route regularly sees dangerous transportation of sugar cane, along with movement of dumpers and other heavy vehicles."
Shinde added concerning details about daily disruptions, stating, "School and college students also use this same route for their commute. As a result, traffic jams occur here throughout the day, creating immense hardship for residents who must navigate these dangerous conditions regularly."
Formal Demands and Political Engagement
During the meeting, participants reached a consensus to submit a written statement to both their people's representative and the district collector, formally requesting intervention. Former corporator Dhananjay Sawant expressed optimism about political support, hoping that newly elected corporators would raise this critical issue within the municipal corporation framework.
The gathering saw substantial community participation, with numerous residents from the area attending to voice their concerns. Among those present were:
- Dilip Thanekar
- Ibrahim Mulla
- Sunil Shinde
- Dheeraj Mule
- Vijay Patil
- Kisan Patil
- Dheeraj Rokde
- Sanjay Warekar
- Anil Patil
The community's unified stance reflects growing impatience with what they perceive as neglected infrastructure needs that compromise both safety and quality of life in this historic city neighborhood.
