Pune: Chakan Traffic Crisis Deepens as Encroachments Shrink Roads, Causing Daily Congestion on Pune-Nashik Highway
Chakan, 7th October 2026: Traffic congestion has become a daily ordeal for residents, workers and commuters in Chakan, as encroachments along the Pune-Nashik Highway and Talegaon-Shikrapur Road continue to affect traffic movement. Roadside shops, handcarts, unauthorised parking and encroachments have reduced the available road space, resulting in long queues of vehicles, particularly during peak hours.
Chakan, one of Maharashtra’s major industrial hubs, witnesses heavy traffic throughout the day due to the movement of thousands of workers and a large number of heavy commercial vehicles. Traffic congestion becomes particularly severe during the morning, afternoon and evening shift changes at industrial units.
With roadsides occupied by encroachments and illegally parked vehicles, pedestrians and two-wheeler riders are often forced to navigate through narrow and congested stretches, raising concerns over road safety.
One of the major congestion points is Alandi Phata, where a roughly 15-foot-wide road from the Nanekarwadi industrial area meets the Pune-Nashik Highway.
The movement of heavy vehicles from this narrow road onto the highway frequently disrupts traffic and adds to congestion. Residents have also alleged that a company wall and other encroachments at the location have remained despite repeated concerns.
Locals have questioned the effectiveness of anti-encroachment drives carried out by the administration. According to residents, action is often temporary, with encroachments returning within a few days.
They have alleged that administrative delays and alleged political influence have allowed the problem to persist.
Police Inspector Deepak Gosavi said that the police regulate traffic on the Pune-Nashik Highway, but encroachments have narrowed several roads and junctions, making traffic management difficult.
He said the concerned departments need to take action against encroachments and ensure that roads and junctions remain sufficiently wide for smooth traffic movement.
The major factors contributing to the traffic problems in Chakan include:
Roadside shops, handcarts and stalls along the highway
Unauthorised parking on both sides of the road
Encroachments reducing the original road width
Heavy movement of industrial and commercial vehicles
Narrow internal roads connecting industrial areas to the highway
Residents have demanded the permanent removal of encroachments and strict enforcement against unauthorised structures and parking.
They have also called for impartial action, alleging that encroachments belonging to influential individuals should not be allowed to remain.
Citizens have questioned how long they will have to endure daily traffic congestion and demanded that the administration identify those responsible for the continuing situation.
Dilip Shinde, Deputy Superintendent of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said that a large number of encroachments along the Pune-Nashik Highway have already been removed.
He said that only a limited number of encroachments remain on the highway. However, he added that encroachments on internal roads connecting to the Pune-Nashik Highway need to be removed by the concerned departments.
The continuing traffic crisis has raised questions over coordination between the authorities responsible for roads, encroachment removal and traffic management. With Chakan’s industrial activity continuing to expand, residents and workers are demanding a permanent solution before congestion and road-safety concerns worsen further.
