Pune Police Ban Protests on FC Road, JM Road, Alka Talkies Chowk

Pune, 14th July 2026: Protests on Fergusson College (FC) Road, Jangli Maharaj (JM) Road and Alka Talkies Chowk could soon become a thing of the past after Commissioner of Police has announced to to prohibit demonstrations at these busy locations, citing growing traffic congestion and inconvenience to commuters.

Amitesh Kumar on Monday announced that demonstrations and agitations would no longer be allowed on the city’s key arterial roads. The announcement came hours after police denied permission to civil services aspirants to stage a protest at Alka Talkies Chowk.

Kumar said protest organisers would instead have to hold demonstrations near government offices or at locations away from major traffic corridors.

“Lakhs of motorists use FC Road and JM Road every day. Allowing protests on these roads brings traffic to a standstill and causes severe inconvenience to the public,” he said.

The police commissioner also made it clear that prior police permission would be mandatory for organising any protest. He warned that action would be taken against individuals or groups that mobilise crowds through social media posts or online appeals without obtaining prior approval from the police.

The move comes amid a series of demonstrations in recent months on FC Road, JM Road and at Alka Talkies Chowk, locations that have emerged as preferred protest venues because of their visibility and accessibility, but which also witness some of the city’s heaviest traffic.