Pune, 20 January 2026: Traffic movement in central parts of the city came to standstill on Monday due to extensive road closures for the Pune Grand Tour 2026. The restrictions caused long delays and inconvenience to residents, office-goers, students, and patients, triggering strong reactions from citizens both on the ground and on social media.
Several key junctions and arterial roads in the heart of the city were barricaded, disrupting connectivity across central areas. The impact was felt in the Peth localities, Deccan region, Senapati Bapat Road, Swargate, Nal Stop, Paud Phata, and Ganeshkhind Road, among others.
Traffic congestion spilled over to connecting routes, worsening the situation during peak hours.
Many residents complained that despite living within the restricted zones, they were unable to reach their homes on time. Others said they missed medical appointments and college schedules as alternative routes were either unclear or overcrowded.
While citizens acknowledged that hosting national-level sporting events is important for the city, they questioned the lack of advance communication and planning to minimise public inconvenience.
On social media, several users criticised the authorities for shutting major roads during busy hours without adequate traffic management or clear signage for diversions. Concerns were also raised about the additional pressure placed on smaller internal roads.
Responding to the criticism, Pune Police said the restrictions were imposed to ensure the safety of cyclists and to manage the event smoothly. According to Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil, traffic on Ganeshkhind Road and Jangli Maharaj Road was closed from 12:15 pm to 4:15 pm, while traffic at Gopal Krishna Gokhale Chowk remained shut until 5:15 pm. He added that all roads were reopened for regular traffic once the event concluded.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for better coordination and communication when organising large-scale events in a densely populated city like Pune.
