Massive Traffic Chaos on Mumbai-Pune Expressway During New Year Weekend
Pune: The Mumbai-Pune Expressway witnessed unprecedented traffic congestion on Saturday, with lakhs of vehicles clogging the route during the extended New Year weekend. The gridlock was particularly severe on the Pune-bound lane, with bumper-to-bumper traffic stretching for several kilometers. Some travelers reported taking up to seven hours to reach Pune from Mumbai, a journey that typically takes three hours.
The surge in traffic was attributed to many officegoers taking Monday and Tuesday off, creating a five-day holiday window until New Year’s Day. A highway police officer confirmed the scale of the congestion, saying, “The Pune carriageway was heavily congested, with queues of vehicles extending for 6-7 kilometers. Despite diverting vehicles to the Mumbai-bound lane, the situation remained difficult throughout Saturday afternoon. The sheer volume of both heavy and light vehicles on the route caused a significant slowdown.”
Tourist hotspots like Khandala and Lonavala added to the chaos, as they saw an overwhelming number of visitors. “The influx of tourists significantly contributed to the traffic jams. We are expecting a similar situation on Sunday as well,” the officer added.
Travelers Share Frustrations
Frequent commuters and transport operators bore the brunt of the delays. Owner of a travel agency, shared his experience: “Even at 10 a.m., our clients faced delays of over four-and-a-half hours to reach Mumbai from Pune, which usually takes three hours. The traffic was relentless.”
Another traveler, who was driving from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar via NH48, described his ordeal. “I was stuck for an hour near Khandala where NH48 merges with the expressway. The congestion near the Amrutanjan Bridge added another hour and a half to my journey. The entire ghat section was jam-packed with vehicles. A trip that normally takes three hours took me four-and-a-half hours,” he said.
A cab driver returning to Pune from Mumbai recounted his struggle, saying, “The ghat section till the Amrutanjan Bridge was a nightmare. The traffic stretched nearly five kilometers, with vehicles crawling at a snail’s pace.”
Another commuter shared a personal account: “I needed to get to Pune urgently to meet my elderly father and son. Unfortunately, I’ve been stuck on the expressway for hours with no sign of relief. It’s been incredibly frustrating.”
A Mumbai-Pune traveler highlighted the extent of the congestion, saying, “The gridlock stretched for 50 kilometers before Lonavala and continued for another 20 kilometers afterward. Every 1-2 kilometers, we faced delays of 20-30 minutes. What’s normally a three-hour drive turned into a five-and-a-half-hour ordeal. I was traveling for leisure, but I can’t imagine how those with urgent commitments managed to cope with such delays.”
The authorities have urged travelers to plan their journeys wisely and anticipate longer travel times during the holiday rush. With heavy traffic expected to persist through Sunday, motorists are advised to exercise patience and caution while on the road.
