Pune: Police have announced sweeping traffic restrictions and diversions across the city for the Ganesh immersion procession on Friday, with seven major roads set to remain closed, traffic diversions at multiple junctions and a 48-hour ban on the entry of heavy vehicles.The traffic branch issued the orders on Wednesday, stating that the restrictions would be enforced in phases from 9am on Sept 25 as the immersion processions move through the city. Traffic will be diverted dynamically from identified junctions depending on the movement of processions.Major roads affectedTraffic restrictions will impact key city roads including Shivaji Road, Laxmi Road, Bajirao Road, Kumbharwada Road, Ganesh Road, Kelkar Road, Tilak Road, Shastri Road, JM Road, Karve Road, FC College Road, Bhandarkar Road, Pune-Satara Road, Solapur Road, Prabhat Road, Bagade Road and Guru Nanak Road.Police have identified diversion points on JM Road, Shivaji Road, routes along the Mula-Mutha riverfront, Laxmi Road, Solapur Road, Satara Road, Bajirao Road, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Karve Road and FC Road. Traffic will be rerouted from these locations as and when required.No-parking zone from Thursday nightA no-parking order will come into force from 11pm on Sept 24 and remain in effect until the immersion procession concludes. The restriction covers the main procession route, including Laxmi Road, Kelkar Road, Kumbharwada Road, Tilak Road, Bajirao Road, Shivaji Road, Shastri Road, JM Road, Karve Road and FC Road.Parking will also be prohibited within a 100-metre stretch between Khandoji Baba Chowk and Hotel Vaishali.Heavy vehicles barred for 48 hoursAll heavy vehicles will be prohibited from entering Pune city from midnight on Sept 25 till midnight on Sept 26. Traffic police have appealed to operators of goods vehicles and transporters to avoid entering the city during the restriction period to prevent congestion along immersion routes.Suburban traffic curbsIn the Dhayari Phata-Nanded Phata belt, vehicular movement will be restricted between 11am and midnight on Sept 25. Traffic from Swargate will be diverted via Dhayari flyover, Rajyog Society Chowk and Nanded City Chowk before crossing the canal bridge and turning left towards the intended destination.Movement towards Wadgaon Baji Mandai on Sinhagad Road will also be restricted. Motorists have been advised to use routes via Goyal Ganga Chowk or Veer Baji Pasalkar Chowk.One-way arrangements in Mundhwa-HadapsarSpecial one-way traffic plans will be implemented in Keshavnagar, Mundhwa and Sasane Nagar-Hadapsar from 6am on Sept 25 until the immersion processions conclude.Vehicles travelling towards Manjari from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Keshavnagar have been directed to use the Renuka Mata Temple route instead of Manjari Road. Similarly, motorists travelling from Gayran Vasti towards Mundhwa Chowk will be required to turn left at Renuka Mata Temple.26 parking locations identifiedTo facilitate devotees attending the immersion procession, police have earmarked around 26 parking locations across the central city. Designated parking areas include New English School, Gogate Prashala, Shivaji Akhada parking lot, DES College, near Patraya Maruti Chowk, AISSMS College ground, SP College, PMPML ground at Puram Chowk, Peshwe Park, Harjivan Hospital, Patil Plaza, Parvati-Dandekar Bridge stretch, Rajaram Bridge, Nilayam Talkies, BMCC ground, Garware College, Sanjeevani Medical College, Fergusson College, Jain Hostel, Marathwada College, Congress Bhavan, New English School and select riverbed parking zones.Restrictions across Pimpri ChinchwadPimpri Chinchwad traffic police have also announced temporary diversions on Sept 24 and 25. Key restrictions will be enforced in Bhosari, Wakad, Nigdi, Hinjewadi and Pimpri.In Bhosari, traffic from Khadki towards Phugewadi via Harris Bridge and Old Mumbai-Pune highway will be diverted through the grade separator and Phugewadi Chowk. Additional diversions will be in place around Bhosari Bridge and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue Chowk.In Wakad, vehicles heading towards Datta Mandir Road from Annabhau Sathe Chowk will be diverted through Kaverinagar or Kalakhadak Chowk, while traffic from Wakad towards Datta Mandir Road will be routed via Wakad Chowk and Kaspate Corner.Restrictions will also be imposed around Chafekar Chowk in Nigdi, while in Hinjewadi, traffic from Phase-3 Tata T-Junction towards Geometric Circle and Shivaji Chowk will be diverted through Laxmi Chowk.In Pimpri, diversions will be enforced on roads connecting Pavneshwar Temple, Sarja Hotel, Kalewadi Bridge, Deluxe Chowk, Karachi Chowk and River Road.Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vikrant Deshmukh said the restrictions would be enforced dynamically depending on the movement and size of immersion processions.Massive police deploymentFor the immersion festivities, Pune police have deployed a substantial security arrangement comprising six deputy commissioners of police, nine assistant commissioners of police, 64 inspectors, 291 assistant inspectors/sub-inspectors, 17 striking force units, four riot control squads, 2,355 police personnel, and 550 home guards to ensure smooth traffic movement, effective crowd management, and public safety during one of Pune’s largest annual religious processions.
