Pune, 25 August 2025: Pune is preparing for Ganeshotsav in a big way as thousands of devotees and visitors are expected to pour into the city from September 27 to October 6. To manage the festive rush, civic and police authorities have announced new traffic rules, parking spaces, bus diversions, and longer Pune Metro hours.
Traffic in central Pune will see major changes during the festival. Vehicle movement on Shivaji Road will remain suspended between Gadital Putla Chowk and Gotiram Bhaiyya Chowk, while parking will be prohibited on key stretches such as Savarkar Putla Chowk to Sinhgad Road.
Several alternative routes and special parking zones have been created to ease congestion. Areas such as Keshavnagar and Mundhwa will also see diversions and partial closures to keep the flow of vehicles steady.
Public transport will undergo temporary changes. PMPML buses from Shivajinagar and PMC bus stands heading towards Swargate will be rerouted through alternative routes, while heavy vehicles will not be allowed on major city roads including Tilak Road, Shastri Road, Laxmi Road, Bajirao Road, Fergusson College Road, Sinhgad Road and others.
The Pune Metro will extend its services, operating from 6 am to 2 am between August 30 and September 5, and providing continuous service for 41 hours during Anant Chaturdashi on September 6 and 7, before returning to regular timings.
The Pune Police and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are also working together to ensure safety and convenience during the 10-day festival. Civic teams have been deployed to repair potholes, restore faulty streetlights, and check CCTV cameras along major procession routes. Officials said that several repairs have already been completed and all remaining work will be wrapped up before the festival begins.
Authorities stressed that the large crowds expected in Pune require strong coordination between civic workers, police, and transport agencies. Their goal is to keep the celebrations safe, ensure that devotees face no major inconvenience, and maintain smooth traffic and public movement throughout the city.