Pune: Traffic Woes on Sinhagad Road Worsen as Police-Seized Vehicles Occupy Lanes

Pune, 5th December 2024: Pune’s Sinhagad Road continues to face severe traffic congestion, with the situation worsened by vehicles seized in criminal cases being parked outside the Haveli Police Station and Abhiruchi Police Chowki. These vehicles occupy a significant portion of the road, leaving motorists with limited lane access and contributing to unsanitary conditions and encroachments.

The stretch between Hingane and Dhayari is already plagued by slow-moving traffic due to ongoing flyover construction between Hingane and Manik Baug. However, additional hurdles such as double and triple parking, illegal encroachments, and permanently parked vehicles between Vadgaon and Dhayari have exacerbated the issue.

Seized vehicles stored outside the police station and chowki have led to double parking on the road, further clogging the area. Ironically, while police promptly act against civilians parking on footpaths or double parking, no action is taken against their own improperly parked vehicles. Residents have raised concerns about this double standard and called for immediate solutions.

During evening rush hours, traffic between Pasalkar Chowk and Dhayari becomes especially chaotic. Vehicles parked outside the Haveli police station obstruct half of the lanes, creating bottlenecks and forcing pedestrians onto narrow footpaths cluttered with hundreds of abandoned bikes. Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses stopping at designated stands add to the traffic jams, leaving motorists stuck in long queues.

With no designated area for storing seized vehicles, police stations have resorted to using public roads and footpaths. Local residents are demanding that an alternative location be arranged to house these vehicles and alleviate the persistent congestion on Sinhagad Road.