Residents Protest Traffic Chaos on Sinhagad Road During Barricading

Pune experienced significant traffic disruptions on March 5, 2024, as barricading work by a road contractor on Sinhagad Road led to a massive traffic jam during peak morning hours. Residents gathered at Vitthalwadi Chowk to protest the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) decision to install dividers, arguing that the changes would severely restrict traffic flow.

As vehicles were stuck in a near standstill for nearly three hours, the situation escalated. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Himmat Jadhav stated, “After the traffic jam, our team reached the spot and directed the PMC contractor to halt the work and take it up in the night hours.” This intervention aimed to alleviate the chaos and ensure smoother traffic management.

Community Pushback and Results

The residents’ protests were effective, leading to the removal of the newly installed dividers at Vitthalwadi Chowk. They also urged officials to reconsider dividers located near the flyover bridge ramp leading to Rajaram Bridge. Following the protests, PMC and traffic police officials assured the community that they would evaluate the situation and propose a solution within a few days.

During a visit to the site in the afternoon, residents expressed their concerns to the Times of India about the narrowing of road space caused by the dividers, which reduced the available passage to barely five meters. Local resident Rahul More from Vishrantinagar highlighted that ongoing construction of the flyover bridge forced many drivers to divert to canal road to avoid the congested Manikbaug-Vitthalwadi stretch, only to become stuck at Vitthalwadi Chowk due to the limited space.

Impact on Traffic Conditions

The removal of the divider at Vitthalwadi Chowk provided immediate relief to the traffic situation on Sinhagad Road. This stretch had already been suffering from congestion due to the ongoing construction work. Many residents felt that the PMC should have scheduled the barricading activities at night to minimize disruptions during peak commuting hours.

The events of the day underscored the challenges faced by local authorities in managing roadworks while accommodating the needs of commuters. As the community awaits further action from the PMC, the situation serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and planning in urban infrastructure projects.