Pune, 22 August 2025: A spell of evening rain followed by office rush hours left Pune’s roads completely choked on Thursday. Long queues of vehicles stretched across major city routes, turning the daily commute into a tiring ordeal for thousands of citizens.
Heavy traffic was reported on Ganeshkhind Road, Jangli Maharaj Road, Karve Road, Bajirao Road, Fergusson College Road, Shivaji Road, and even the Pune-Mumbai highway. Internal lanes in the city’s old peth areas also witnessed blockages, forcing commuters to spend hours in gridlock.
The situation was aggravated by potholes formed after the rains, ongoing road encroachments, and the closure of riverbank routes due to water release from Khadakwasla dam. These combined issues slowed traffic movement and created chaos across the city.
Preparations for the upcoming Ganesh festival added another layer of congestion. On Jangali Maharaj Road, pandal construction occupied parts of the road, and with office-goers rushing home at the same time, traffic snarls grew more severe.
Citizens expressed frustration that despite facing the same problems every monsoon, neither the municipal corporation nor traffic police have come up with concrete solutions. The lack of quick pothole repairs and absence of alternate traffic routes worsened the situation, leaving residents worried that the coming weeks may bring even more distress.