Pune Police Commissioner Bans Protests at Navale Bridge After Massive Traffic Jam

Narhe, 6th May 2026: The Pune city police have imposed a ban on protests at the Navale Bridge stretch on the Mumbai–Bengaluru bypass following severe traffic disruption caused by a recent agitation. Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar issued the order to prevent further inconvenience to commuters and ensure smooth vehicular movement on the busy corridor.

The decision follows a protest held on Saturday (May 2) evening, when a group of citizens gathered near Navale Bridge demanding strict punishment for the accused in the Nasrapur atrocity case. The protesters staged a road blockade that continued for nearly four hours, bringing traffic on the highway to a complete halt.

Vehicular movement towards Mumbai and Satara was severely affected, with long queues forming on both sides of the road. The resulting traffic congestion reportedly extended up to 15 kilometres, leaving ambulances, passenger vehicles, and goods carriers stranded for several hours.

Several commuters and local residents lodged complaints with the police control room regarding the gridlock. Following the incident, Commissioner Amitesh Kumar visited the spot and held discussions with the protesters in an attempt to defuse the situation.

Police officals said the restriction on protests at Navale Bridge has been imposed to maintain traffic flow and ensure public safety on the strategically important bypass route.