Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway Near Pune Faces Heavy Traffic on Maharashtra Polling Day
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Mumbai, 20th November 2024: Heavy traffic is being reported on the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway, particularly near Pune, as polling for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections takes place today. The Pune-Satara section of National Highway 4, which connects Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai to Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru, is always a busy route. However, today’s congestion has left many travellers frustrated for hours.
A significant number of people residing in Pune have their voting centers in their native places in South Maharashtra, including Sangli, Kolhapur, and Satara districts. Similarly, voters who live outside Pune but are registered in the city are traveling back, adding to the traffic.
Additionally, the long weekend has prompted many to plan quick trips to popular destinations like Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Lonavala, and Khandala, further exacerbating the traffic situation. If you’re planning to travel on this route, prepare for delays or consider alternative routes to avoid the congestion.
Smita Chavan, a user on X, criticized the administration, claiming it was an attempt to reduce voter turnout. “You need to urgently address the heavy congestion on the Pune-Satara Highway. To me, it seems like a deliberate attempt to prevent voting,” she wrote.
Another user, Shree, expressed frustration on X, saying, “Dear Maharashtra Government, thanks for your so-called failed traffic arrangements. At least during elections, you could manage the traffic. The entire Pune-Khed Shivapur-Bengaluru Highway is stuck. People are wondering whether to cast their vote or go back home.”
