The Monday evening commute in Pune turned into a nightmare for thousands of residents as roadblocks for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' convoy triggered widespread traffic paralysis across the city. The VIP movement, part of the CM's schedule to attend multiple events, resulted in severe congestion on major arterial roads, with travel times more than doubling during the peak evening hours.
City Brought to a Standstill
The cascading effect of the traffic restrictions was felt far and wide. A resident from Baner, who wished to remain anonymous, shared a harrowing experience. Their usual 40-minute commute to Fergusson College (FC) Road stretched to a grueling hour and a half. "I was stuck at SPPU Chowk itself for an hour," they said. The entire stretch from Abhimanshree Society Road through Baner Road and Ganeshkhind Road up to Senapati Bapat Road (SB) was choked, a reality confirmed by both live traffic maps and on-ground conditions.
The traffic personnel attributed the massive backlog to the Chief Minister's convoy passing through the Shivajinagar area. Fadnavis' itinerary included a function at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, followed by an event at the Pune Book Fest on FC Road, and culminated with his movement towards the airport for departure.
Public Outcry and Social Media Frustration
Frustrated citizens took to social media platforms to vent their anger, highlighting how VIP movements exacerbate the already stressed Pune road infrastructure. The situation was further compounded by an unrelated accident on Ganeshkhind Road in the morning, which had already slowed traffic.
Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole provided an update on the situation via his official X account around 7 pm, stating, "the traffic flow has been restored, and the spillover effect caused by the accident/road closure will reduce significantly in the coming hour."
The disruption prompted strong reactions from daily commuters. Sujoy, a Bavdhan resident working near Tilak Road, was not surprised by the chaos. He suggested practical solutions: "Firstly, it would be great if such movements were announced beforehand so people can plan accordingly. Secondly, we wish VIP movements were arranged on Sundays when we don't have office or during non-peak hours, instead of during evening rush hours."
Police Action and Resident Anguish
In anticipation of the VIP movement, police were seen actively clearing double-parked vehicles on FC Road from the afternoon to widen the carriageway. This action, however, drew criticism from locals. One resident pointedly asked, "Why can't the police do this every day? Why should the road be cleared only for VIPs?"
The traffic snarls were not confined to the western parts of the city. Vimannagar was another majorly affected area. Anita Inamdar, a resident, described her ordeal: "Though I managed to get out of Vimannagar without much difficulty, I encountered severe congestion soon after." Heading towards JM Road, she was informed of heavy traffic stalls ahead at Sangamwadi and Sancheti Chowk. To avoid being stuck for hours, she turned back home. Her attempt to book a cab as an alternative also failed due to unavailability, forcing her to cancel her plans entirely.
The incident has reignited the longstanding debate in Pune about the disproportionate disruption caused by VIP security protocols on public life, especially when scheduled during peak traffic times without prior public intimation.
