Pune-Mumbai Expressway Faces Severe Traffic Chaos After Ram Navami Holiday Declaration
The ghat section of the Pune-Mumbai Expressway experienced intense traffic congestion, exacerbated by detours due to the annual Shri Ekvira Devi Chaitri Yatra, following the declaration of Ram Navami as a government holiday. This long weekend prompted numerous travel getaways, leading to a surge in vehicular movement that overwhelmed the highway infrastructure.
Traffic Diversions and Festival Impact
Heavy vehicular traffic was suspended on the old Pune-Mumbai highway between Wadgaon Phata and the Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza to accommodate the Shri Ekvira Devi Chaitri Yatra festival. From Thursday midnight until 12 am on Friday, vehicles were diverted to the expressway, with directives applying to all categories except light motor vehicles belonging to devotees. This rerouting significantly contributed to the congestion on the expressway.
Police Deployment and Traffic Management Efforts
Superintendent of highway traffic police for the Pune division, Vikrant Deshmukh, stated that highway police teams from both Raigad and Pune divisions were deployed to manage the anticipated heavy rush. Around 40 police personnel from Raigad and 20 from Pune were stationed on the expressway, with cranes and other rescue infrastructure in place. Despite these measures, the sheer volume of vehicles caused severe snarls, necessitating phased movement stoppages at certain points to ease congestion in the ghats.
Accident Adds to Gridlock
The traffic situation worsened when an SUV collided with a car near Khandala on Thursday morning, leading to a pile-up of at least 10 vehicles. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident. A local resident described the traffic jam as intense from Thursday midnight through the morning, with devotees participating in the annual Ekvira Devi temple yatra adding to the chaos. The resident noted that while snarls eased into a more typical long weekend traffic jam, the initial congestion was severe.
Calls for Infrastructure Improvements
Frequent commuters have urged for the speedy completion of works on the missing link of the expressway, which is expected to help alleviate such congestion in the future. The combination of festival-related diversions, holiday travel plans, and inadequate infrastructure highlights the need for enhanced highway management and development to prevent similar gridlocks.
The traffic disruptions underscore the challenges of managing high-volume travel during festive periods and long weekends, with authorities striving to balance safety and mobility amidst growing vehicular demands.
