In a major move to prepare the city for a prestigious international sporting event, the Pune district administration has announced a series of road closures affecting the Haveli area. The most significant closure is on the Kondhwa (Khadi Machine Chowk) – Saswad – Veer road passing through the scenic Bopdev Ghat, which will remain shut for traffic until January 13.
Road Closures and Alternative Routes
The decision, officially communicated by the Pune district collector, is to facilitate critical strengthening and asphalting work on State Highway No. 131. The specific stretch under renovation is between km 1/600 and 6/550, covering the segment from Yewalewadi Arch to Bopdev Machi. This is part of a massive Rs 500 crore road upgrade initiative for the upcoming event.
Commuters traveling from Saswad towards Pune or Kondhwa are strongly advised to use the designated alternative route. The diversion will take traffic via Palkhi Marg, Fursungi, Saswad, and Dive Ghat. The authorities have clarified that other roads in the Haveli region will also face temporary closures and diversions to the same alternative route to enable full-width paving work from January 7 to 14.
The Pune Grand Tour: A Global Cycling Spectacle
These extensive infrastructure works are being undertaken for the inaugural Pune Grand Tour, a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) 2.2 level professional cycling race. Scheduled to be held from January 19 to 23, 2026, the event is inspired by the famed Tour de France and is set to put Pune on the global sporting map.
The race will feature 171 elite participants from over 30 countries, making it the largest event of its category worldwide, as per information from the organizers. The competition will unfold over four challenging stages covering a total distance of 437 km across Pune district.
Race Route and Stages
The detailed stage plan for the Pune Grand Tour is as follows:
- Stage 1 (91.8 km): Passes through Mulshi, Maval, and Pimpri Chinchwad.
- Stage 2 (109.15 km): Traverses from Pune through Purandar, Rajgad, and Haveli.
- Stage 3 (137.07 km): Covers the route from Purandar to Baramati.
- Stage 4 (99.15 km): The final leg will go from Pune through Haveli and PCMC, culminating near the Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir in Pune city.
The closure of Bopdev Ghat road is directly linked to ensuring the safety and quality of the race route, particularly for the stages passing through the Haveli and Purandar regions. Residents and daily commuters are urged to plan their travel accordingly, factor in additional time for detours, and cooperate with traffic police directives during this period of development for the landmark sporting event.
