Pune Traffic Police have issued a traffic advisory for Thursday in view of a protest march being held during the Maharashtra Bandh. Temporary traffic diversions and restrictions will be implemented on several roads in the city depending on the movement of the procession.
The march is scheduled to begin at 10 am and will start after paying floral tributes to the statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj at Deccan. It will proceed through Lal Mahal, Daruwala Bridge, Narpatgiri Chowk and Bolhai Mata Mandir before concluding at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue near Sassoon Hospital, close to Pune Railway Station.
Traffic movement is expected to be slow on the following roads during the protest:
Ganesh Road
Kelkar Road
Shivaji Road
Nehru Road
Police said restrictions will be imposed only when required based on the movement of the procession, but heavy congestion is likely throughout the route.
To reduce traffic congestion, commuters have been advised to use alternate roads.
Motorists travelling towards Laxmi Road should take the Daruwala Bridge–Dulya Maruti route.
Vehicles heading towards Ganesh Road can travel via Lal Mahal, Phadke Haud, Surya Hospital and 15 August Chowk.
Those using Kelkar Road are advised to take the ABC Chowk–Futka Buruj–Surya Hospital route.
For Shivaji Road, commuters should use Jangli Maharaj Road, Riverbed Road or Tilak Road.
Traffic bound for Nehru Road should use Ganesh Road or approach through Banerjee Chowk and Nehru Memorial.
The traffic arrangements have been made as Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) observes the Maharashtra Bandh in protest against the alleged police action on students at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The organisation has claimed that more than 30 organisations are supporting the bandh, and a large turnout is expected for the march.
Pune Traffic Police have appealed to citizens to avoid the affected roads, especially Ganesh Road, where severe congestion is expected. Commuters are requested to plan their journeys in advance, use the suggested alternate routes and follow instructions issued by traffic police personnel to ensure smooth traffic movement.
