PUNE: As the Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhis will be reaching Wakdewadi on Saturday, Pune city traffic police have suggested traffic diversions for commuters as traffic on some major and internal roads will be closed and diverted for the Palkhi processions.
The Palkhi of Sant Tukaram Maharaj began its journey on Thursday from Dehu. The Palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar will leave from Alandi on Friday morning. In Pune, both Palkhis will stay at Nivdunga Vithal Temple, Nana Peth and Palkhi Vithoba Temple, Bhavani Peth, respectively on Sunday.
The traffic will be diverted and parking on the procession route will be banned. The police have appealed to people to follow traffic diversion routes so that the traffic flow is not disturbed. Pune city police staff along with one company of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) will be on the roads for security and smooth flow of the processions.
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS ON FRIDAY IN PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD
On Friday from 12 noon till the time Sant Tukaram Palkhi reaches Vitthal Mandir in Akurdi, the traffic on Old Pune-Mumbai Highway will be diverted.
Traffic from Dehu Phata to Bhakti Shakti Chowk 1) Heavy vehicles coming towards Pune must use Dehu Phata to Katraj Bypass route 2) Other vehicles going towards Mumbai must use the route Khandoba Maal then take a right turn and go via Thermax Chowk and Dehu Road.
FOR TRAFFIC FROM BHAKTI SHAKTI CHOWK (NIGDI) TO DEHU PHATA
1) Vehicles coming towards Pune must use – Dehu Phata to Katraj Bypass via Kala Khadak - Dange Chowk or Wakad Chowk - Chinchwad route. 2) Vehicles going towards Mumbai must use – Khandoba Maal Right turn – Thermax Chowk – Dehu Road 3) Vehicles going towards Pradhikaran must use the route Thermax Chowk – Khandoba Maal – Chafekar Chowk - Chinchwad Farm – Bijlinagar via Pradhikaran or Telco Road Thermax Chowk–Durga Devi Chowk–Bhakti Shakti Chowk and the internal roads.
The traffic on Mhalsakant Chowk to Tilak Chowk has been diverted from Mhalsakant Chowk–Khandoba Maal–Sambhaji Chowk–Bijlinagar–Chinchwad Farm and Ravet. On Old Pune-Mumbai Highway, the road from Nigdi Jakat Naka to Khandoba Maal grade separator will be closed for both sides from 2 pm to 6 pm as per the requirement.
Vehicles going from Khandoba Maal to Pradhikaran should use the route via SKF Company–Chafekar Chowk–Bijlinaga –Pradhikaran. Vehicles coming towards Pune from Pradhikaran should use Bijalinagar-Chafekar Chowk– Mahavir Chowk–Pune-Mumbai Highway.
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS ON SATURDAY IN PUNE
The traffic police have advised the use of internal roads and Aundh Road for commuting and avoiding the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway.
Some of the major roads in Pune will be completely closed as per the timings of the arrival of the Palkhis till the processions and warkaris walking with them reach their destinations.
THE FOLLOWING ROADS WILL BE CLOSED
-Old Pune-Mumbai Highway, Khadki to Bopodi Chowk, RTO to Engineering College Chowk
-Dighi Magazine to Alandi, Vadmukhwadi to Alandi, Kalas Phata to Alandi, Mental Hospital Corner to Alandi Road Junction
-Sada Babs Dargah to Patil Estate, Chandrama Chowk to Alandi Road, Khandoji Baba Chowk to Veer Chafekar Chowk, Shaniwarwada to Shivaji Road, Holkar Bridge to Chandrama Chowk and Sappras Chowk
-Laxmi Road, Jangli Maharaj Road, Fergusson College Road, Shivaji Road and Nehru Road.
Police will also be prohibiting parking on the these closed roads also on the 100 metres of the bylanes leading to these roads.
DIVERSIONS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
On Saturday and Sunday the vehicles going towards Ahmednagar, Nashik, Mumbai will see road diversions as follows: Choufulla – Kedgaon – Pargaon – Navhere Phata – Nagar Road – Shikrapur – Chakan – Talegaon. Theur Phata – Kesanand -Wagholi-Lonikhand – Nagar Road – Markal -Moshi.
Vehicles travelling from Saswad towards Ahmednagar, Nashik, Mumbai should use following roads: Saswad – Narayanpur – Kapor Hol – Katraj Bypass or Saswad --Bapdev Ghat – Katraj Bypass. Vehicles travelling from Mumbai towards Ahmednagar should go via Talegaon – Chakan – Shikrapur – Ahmednagar.