Illegal Water Tankers, Poor Planning: SM Ghule Chowk Becomes Mohammadwadi’s Traffic Nightmare

Mohammadwadi, 3rd October 2025: Multiple government departments, including the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Kalepadal division of the Pune Traffic Police, the road planning department, and vigilance agencies, are under scrutiny for alleged mismanagement and traffic congestion in the Salunkhe Vihar–NIBM Annexe–SM Ghule Chowk corridor. Residents are calling it an “engineered civic collapse,” citing daily traffic snarls, illegal tanker parking, and reckless urban planning.

Formal complaints regarding the corridor’s state have been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office, the Pune Police Commissioner, and the Urban Development Department.

SM Ghule Chowk: From Promise to ‘Unscientific Disaster’
At the center of the controversy is SM Ghule Chowk, once envisioned as a modern junction project, now branded an “unscientific disaster” by urban activists.

Illegal Water Tankers Choke Roadways
Every day, commuters navigate a cluster of water tankers illegally parked near the Axis Bank ATM at SM Ghule Chowk, blocking the narrow stretch between Anandvan Gate and SM Ghule Circle. Despite visible “No Parking” signage, the vehicles remain, with little enforcement from the Kalepadal Traffic Division.

“This is not neglect; it’s collusion,” alleges civic rights activist Shashikant Mehendale. “Repeated complaints have been ignored, and details of the SM Ghule Circle project are deliberately hidden from the public.”

Three-Month Pilot Accused of Being a Sham
The PMC’s three-month traffic circle “pilot” at SM Ghule Chowk has drawn criticism for lacking monitoring, data collection, or visible police supervision.

“Not a single department is tracking traffic flow, accidents, or pedestrian movement. If this is a pilot, where’s the data?” asked social worker Manjusha Kulkarni, urging criminal accountability for what she called “design fraud.”

Oversized Circle, Undersized Planning
Experts say the SM Ghule Circle is oversized, poorly designed, and unable to handle current traffic loads, failing to meet Indian Roads Congress (IRC) standards. Neither PMC nor the traffic police have made project plans or traffic diversion studies publicly available.

“It seems designed for failure. Influential politicians are treating public roads like private property. The rot goes deep,” Kulkarni added.

Lavanya Fish Market Adds to Congestion
Nearby, Lavanya Hotel and its adjoining fish market have created another traffic bottleneck. Vendors occupy both sides of the road, forcing pedestrians onto the street. Residents report multiple minor accidents and growing risks to children and the elderly, yet claim no enforcement has been carried out.

Allegations of Political and Builder Nexus
Activists and local BJP worker Jaymala Dhankikar allege that contractors receive under-the-table payments from builders to maintain the status quo, deliberately keeping traffic management poor to facilitate nearby construction and commercial interests.

“There is an invisible hand of corruption. Why else would such a critical corridor be left to rot?” Dhankikar said in her letter to state officials.

Formal Complaint Submitted
Dhankikar’s detailed complaint was submitted to:
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Urban Development Department
Director General of Police
Chief Secretary & Home Secretary, Maharashtra
Indian Roads Congress (IRC)
Kalepadal Police Division
The letter demands urgent intervention, citing “a clear collapse of enforcement, civic planning, and public safety.”

Citizens’ Demands Include:
Immediate police deployment at traffic bottlenecks
Redesign of SM Ghule Circle with IRC-compliant engineers
Permanent ban on public functions near Axis Bank ATM
Relocation of Lavanya Fish Market to a vendor zone
Strict towing and parking enforcement along Anandvan–SM Ghule stretch
Clearance of footpaths from illegal stalls and political structures
Installation of real-time traffic monitoring, smart signals, and CCTV
Transparent project disclosures with weekly public audits

Government Response Awaited
As of publishing, neither PMC nor Pune Police have issued a statement. However, residents and activists warn that legal action may follow if the authorities fail to act.

“The right to life includes safe roads. If PMC and police don’t intervene, we will move the courts,” Mehendale said.

Conclusion: A Civic Crisis of Accountability
The Salunkhe Vihar–NIBM Annexe corridor’s traffic chaos is more than infrastructure overload — it is a governance failure. From illegal parking and encroachments to poor planning and political interference, the situation underscores a critical need for accountability.

The question remains: will the PMC and Pune Police act before another tragedy strikes?