Laxmi Road, Shivaji Road, Bajirao Road: Pune Traffic Restrictions Announced For Ganeshotsav From September 18 To 25
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 16th September 2026: Pune Traffic Police have announced road closures, diversions and no-parking zones in the city’s central areas from September 18 to 25 to manage the large crowds expected during the Ganesh festival.
Ganeshotsav is being celebrated from September 14 to 25 this year. Thousands of residents and visitors are expected to gather in the city’s traditional market areas to view Ganesh idols, decorative displays and illuminations.
“The tableaux and illuminations attract large numbers of people from Pune and outside the city, increasing pressure on the roads and causing traffic congestion. These restrictions are necessary to ensure that citizens can enjoy the festival while traffic remains safe and orderly,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare informed.
All vehicles, except those providing essential and emergency services such as ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and police vehicles, will be prohibited from using the following stretches from September 18:
Laxmi Road: Hamze Khan Chowk to Sevasadan Chowk
Shivaji Road: Gadgil Statue to Rameshwar Chowk
Bajirao Road: Appa Balwant Chowk to Moti Chowk
Additional restrictions will be imposed daily between 5 pm and the dispersal of crowds from September 18 to 25. These will apply to cars, autorickshaws, two-wheelers and other vehicles.
The affected stretches include Laxmi Road from Sevasadan Chowk to Tilak Chowk, Shivaji Road from Rameshwar Chowk to Jedhe Chowk and Bajirao Road from Puram Chowk to Appa Balwant Chowk.
Restrictions will also cover stretches between Sinhagad Garage and Hirabaug Chowk; Dinkar Jawalkar Path and Paygude Chowk; Gotiram Bhaiyya Chowk and Govind Halwai Chowk on Sanas Road; Panaghanti Chowk and Ganj Peth Police Chowky; Gavkasab Masjid and Central Street Chowky; and Kohinoor Chowk and Babajan Chowk.
Access from Ganj Peth Chowk towards Veer Lahuji Vastad Talim and from the Jagdish Garage lane towards Tilak Road will be prohibited. No alternative routes have been designated for these narrow internal lanes.
Traffic travelling from Shivajinagar towards Swargate has been advised to use S.G. Barve Chowk, Jangli Maharaj Road, Alka Chowk and Tilak Road or Shastri Road. Motorists may also travel through Shimla Chowk, Kamgar Putla Chowk, Shaheer Amar Sheikh Chowk, Bolhai Chowk and Nehru Road.
Vehicles on Laxmi Road may be diverted through Bajirao Road, Puram Chowk and Tilak Road, while motorists on Bajirao Road may use Puram Chowk, Tilak Chowk and Kelkar Road.
“Depending on pedestrian movement, roads may be closed to traffic after 5 pm or vehicles may be diverted to alternative routes. Citizens should avoid taking vehicles through restricted stretches and use the designated diversions or other available roads,” DCP Bhajibhakare said.
The police have also declared no-parking zones on both sides of several roads, including:
Shivaji Road from Jijamata Chowk to Mandai Chowk
The stretch from Mandai to Shanipar Chowk
Bajirao Road from Shanipar Chowk to Futka Buruj
Appa Balwant Chowk to Moti Chowk
Tilak Road from the S.P. College main gate to Tilak Chowk
Shastri Road from Senadatta Police Chowky to Tilak Chowk
One-way traffic rules may be temporarily relaxed, depending on crowd and traffic conditions, on Kumthekar Road, Phadke Haud Road, the Sinhagad Garage–PMC Workshop Chowk stretch and the Kohinoor Hotel–Bhagwan Mahavir Chowk stretch of M.G. Road.
Local traffic will be allowed on some internal roads, but vehicles from outside the affected neighbourhoods will not be permitted to enter the lanes connecting to the closed stretches.
The Traffic Police have appealed to citizens to cooperate with personnel deployed in the festival areas, follow diversion signs and use public transport wherever possible.
