Pune: Wagholi Faces Daily Traffic Congestion Due to Narrow Roads, Encroachments and Lack of Infrastructure

Wagholi, 27th October 2025: The Pune–Ahilyanagar Road, which passes through Wagholi, has become a major traffic bottleneck due to rapid urban growth and a sharp rise in the number of vehicles. Persistent encroachments, unauthorized constructions, and poor infrastructure have left the area struggling with daily traffic congestion.

Although the situation was slightly better on Sunday, heavy and private vehicles, haphazard parking, and driver indiscipline continued to disrupt smooth traffic flow on this busy route. Residents say the problem has worsened in recent years due to the lack of systematic traffic management and insufficient manpower in the Lonikand Traffic Division under the Pune city police, which oversees the area.

Poor Planning and Lack of Exit Roads Add to Chaos
According to locals, the signal-free road from Yerawada to Kharadi allows vehicles to move quickly, but the traffic abruptly slows after the Kharadi exit due to a lack of similar planning beyond that point. This sudden bottleneck causes long queues of vehicles in Wagholi, particularly during peak hours.

The absence of internal connecting roads, which could have eased the pressure on the highway, has further worsened the problem. Several proposed internal roads have reportedly faced land acquisition and clearance obstacles.

Adding to the issue, the only crane available with the Lonikand Traffic Division—used for towing vehicles—has been out of service for months after being sent for repairs. Broken footpaths and vehicles moving in the wrong direction have also become common sights in Wagholi, endangering pedestrians and motorists alike.

Proposed Measures to Ease Traffic
To tackle the situation, experts and citizens have suggested several measures:
Construction of an outer bypass road around Wagholi
Widening of the Pune–Ahilyanagar Road
Development of internal roads to distribute traffic load
Establishment of an efficient public transport system in Wagholi and adjoining areas
Construction of a flyover from Ramwadi to Shirur to streamline vehicle movement
Local residents have urged the administration to take immediate action before Wagholi’s traffic crisis becomes unmanageable.