Traffic Congestion at Ganeshkhind and Pune University Campus Causes Daily Frustration

Pune, 30th July 2025: Motorists are facing daily frustration due to severe traffic congestion along the Ganeshkhind Road and within the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus. The situation has worsened owing to poor planning and ongoing Metro construction work in the area.

Thousands of vehicles from Baner, Pashan, Sakal Nagar, Balewadi, Sangvi, Pimple Gurav, and the Pimpri-Chinchwad area use the Ganeshkhind Road and enter the university premises daily. However, due to a lack of effective traffic management by authorities, massive traffic snarls have become a daily occurrence both on the road and inside the campus, causing mental distress to commuters.

Traffic from Pashan, Baner, Sakal Nagar, and Balewadi makes a U-turn close to the Raj Bhavan intersection to reach Ganeshkhind Road, while cars arrive on campus from the police station side. Additionally, the IUCAA (Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics) gate allows vehicles from Sangvi and Pimple Gurav to access. The convergence of vehicles from all three directions leads to significant congestion, especially at the main university gate and internal roads.

Peak hours—between 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM—see long queues of vehicles, severely impacting traffic flow.

“Every morning, this stretch alone takes 30–40 minutes to cross, a route that earlier took just 5–10 minutes. It’s now a daily issue. Needs better traffic management or an alternative solution before this becomes the new normal”, Devyani Pawar tweeted.

Metro Work and Potholes Worsen the Situation
Ongoing Metro work in front of the university has added to the woes. Large potholes and incomplete resurfacing near the Wagnikomb junction have slowed down traffic movement significantly. Despite recent asphalting of this stretch, the surface has deteriorated again, leading to bumpy rides and slower traffic.

Urgent Solutions Needed
Although traffic police and volunteer wardens are deployed in the Chatushrungi area, their presence is insufficient to manage the heavy traffic. More manpower is urgently needed, especially near the IUCAA gate on the Khadki-Aundh route during peak hours.

Potholes on Ganeshkhind Road must be fixed right away. Additionally, once the construction of one lane on the Metro bridge is completed, it may offer some relief and improve traffic flow in the area.