Pune: Daily Traffic Chaos at Khadi Machine Chowk on Kondhwa–Katraj Road

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Kondhwa, 20th August 2025: Commuters passing through Khadi Machine Chowk on the busy Kondhwa–Katraj Road are facing massive traffic congestion every day. The situation has worsened due to non-functional traffic signals, ongoing roadwork, and the rising number of vehicles during peak hours.

Currently, traffic police are manually regulating vehicle movement at the chowk. However, residents and regular commuters complain that despite these efforts, gridlocks occur every morning and evening, making commuting both stressful and unsafe. “Many accidents happen here regularly due to poor road conditions and lack of proper signal management,” said one resident.

Locals also alleged mismanagement in handling traffic. They pointed out that whenever traffic police personnel go for lunch or take breaks, the junction remains unmanned, leading to severe congestion. “It is not possible for us to keep standing in traffic for hours every day. The situation is worsening,” said another commuter.

Senior PI of Kondhwa Traffic Police, Maruti Patil, admitted to the challenges and explained the reasons: “The traffic signals at this chowk are closed because many people do not follow them. This intersection is not suitable for signal-based regulation, which is why our personnel are handling traffic manually. Roadwork is ongoing, and once it is completed, the situation will improve. We are also coordinating with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to resolve the issue.”

While authorities have assured that roadwork and coordination with PMC will ease congestion in the near future, commuters argue that the present situation demands quicker solutions. Until proper repairs, planning, and effective traffic management are implemented, Khadi Machine Chowk will remain a major bottleneck for thousands of daily road users.