Pune: Three-Hour Gridlock Sparks Outrage In Hinjawadi-Maan IT Hub; Is Pune’s IT Hub Falling Apart?
Hinjawadi, 11th June 2025: Despite being home to some of the most upscale infrastructure and tech parks, Pune’s Hinjawadi-Maan area continues to grapple with chronic traffic congestion. On Tuesday (10th June) evening, around 5:30 pm, a massive traffic jam brought the Hinjawadi-Maan Road to a standstill for nearly three hours. Vehicle queues stretched up to five kilometers, leaving thousands of commuters, especially IT professionals, stranded and frustrated.
As the rain subsided and waterlogging cleared, citizens were left wondering: “If the weather isn’t the issue, what’s holding up the traffic?”
The daily struggle with traffic in Hinjawadi has now become a norm, particularly during peak hours—between 8:30 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm. Frequent traffic snarls, even on major routes, have prompted growing anger among residents who accuse the administration of inaction.
The primary reasons behind the traffic mess include:
– Narrow roads and persistent waterlogging during rains
– Numerous potholes and ongoing metro construction
– Encroachments on roadways
– Entry of heavy vehicles during peak hours
– Undisciplined driving, including wrong-side travel and illegal parking
– Broken-down vehicles and a lack of effective traffic management
The most affected routes include:
Phase 1 to Maan, Wipro Circle to Amsterdam Chowk, Wakad Bridge to Shivaji Chowk, Bhumkar Chowk, Wakad Service Road, Laxmi Chowk, and Pandavnagar to Maan Chowk.
Commuters are now demanding immediate road repairs, provision of alternate routes during metro construction, the installation of smart traffic signals, and stricter traffic control. There is also a growing call for dedicated traffic management during office peak hours, including a ban on heavy vehicles during those times.
