Pune: The National Defence Academy (NDA) authorities have closed their Kondhwe Dhawde premises, known as Kondhwa Gate, for Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses since Sunday morning without giving prior notice. Due to this, the buses were parked on the road, which causes a traffic jam.

The PMPML buses were always parked at Kondhwa Gate Circle, which is on the NDA premises, since the bus service starts from there. The bus service from Kondhwa Gate runs to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Market Yard and Pune station. The PMPML has also set up a ticket window there.

According to a source from NDA, the NDA authorities are authorised to take decisions for entry of vehicles. “Recently a protest was organised by a political party with local residents and villagers. They raised their voice against the NDA authority for not letting them enter inside the campus for worship. Everything was going correctly before the protest. But some people don’t want us to work smoothly and because of this the decision was taken to stop vehicles entering the area,” said the source.

Dattatraya Mane, Traffic Manager of PMPML, said, “The NDA conducts its passing out parade in May and November. They do not allow vehicles to enter the circle, but they give us notice regarding this. In current situations, they have not given any letter to us. We will write them a letter in two days and ask them to allow the buses inside Kondhwa Gate Circle.”

NARROW ROAD PROBLEMS

 The NDA Road starts from Warje Malwadi and goes up to Kondhwa Gate. 
 The road is only 10 metres wide and residential apartments and individual houses are near the gate. 
 The buses parked on the roadside cause heavy traffic jams during peak hours (morning and evening). 
 Passengers who take the bus to go their destination are forced to wait for buses in the scorching May sun. 
 Inside the Kondhwa Gate Circle, there are bus stops with shades, set up by the PMPML.