Pune: Heavy Tourist Influx Causes Severe Traffic Jam In Sinhagad-Khadakwasla Area Amid Rainy Weekend Getaway
Khadakwasla, 19th May 2025: The Sinhagad-Khadakwasla area witnessed massive traffic congestion on Sunday (18th May) as tourists flocked to the popular destination due to the unexpected rainy weather during the summer vacation. The traffic jam extended over a 6.5 km stretch from Donje to Khadakwasla.
From Sunday morning, light rainfall created a pleasant atmosphere, attracting a significant number of tourists. Unlike the previous weekend, when intense heat deterred visitors, the cooler weather brought a surge of tourists, resulting in severe traffic snarls by 2 pm. Long lines of vehicles stretched for over two kilometers from Sinhagad towards Pune, extending to Donje village by 5 pm.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Faction) Leader from Khadakwasla, Nitin Wagh, criticized the lack of police presence to manage traffic in the area. He stated that local residents had to step in to manage the congestion, as no traffic police were seen regulating the flow.
It was highlighted that this is the first monsoon season since the Khadakwasla area was brought under the Pune Police Commissionerate, and authorities appeared unprepared for the surge in weekend traffic. Locals called for dedicated police deployment on weekends to mitigate congestion.
Sinhagad Fort also saw a substantial rise in tourism, with over 15,000 tourists visiting over the weekend. The Sinhagad Forest Conservation Committee collected approximately ₹1.25 lakh as nuisance fees from visitors. According to reports, tourists visited the fort in 2,067 two-wheelers, 1,250 four-wheelers, and several private vehicles, contributing to the traffic chaos.
