Pune’s Major Roads To Shut Down For Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti On Sunday, 14th April—Find Out Where!

Varad Bhatkhande

Pune, 13th April 2024: On Sunday, April 14, citizens from Pune and nearby villages will gather in the city to celebrate Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti. Large processions with various vehicles will take place throughout the city, with significant gatherings expected around 1) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan statue in front of the collector’s office, near Pune Station; 2) Arora Tower Chowk; and 3) the Vishrantwadi Chowk to Kalas Phata and Kalas Phata to Vishrantwadi Chowk areas.

Due to the expected processions, roads in these areas will be heavily congested on both sides, potentially causing inconvenience to drivers. To ensure the safe and smooth flow of traffic, Rohidas Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Pune City, has announced temporary changes in traffic patterns for these areas during the processions.

These changes will exclude essential service vehicles such as fire brigade trucks, police vehicles, and ambulances. Adjustments to traffic patterns will be made according to the specified times and as needed to accommodate the processions and reduce congestion.

To accommodate a large number of citizens and processions celebrating Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti in the Pune district collector office area, there will be several changes in traffic patterns on April 14, 2024, from 06:00 onwards until the rush subsides.

Traffic Changes:
– Shahir Amar Sheikh Chowk: Traffic heading from Shahir Amar Sheikh Chowk to Maldhakka Chowk will be rerouted through Shahir Amar Sheikh Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will proceed via RTO Chowk and Jehangir Chowk to their destinations.
– General Post Office (GPO) Chowk: Traffic moving from GPO Chowk to Bolhai Chowk will be diverted through GPO Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will be rerouted via Kirad Chowk and Nehru Memorial Chowk to reach their destinations.
– Pune Station Chowk: Traffic from Pune Railway Station Chowk to Maldhakka Chowk will be redirected via Pune Station Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will be redirected via Alankar Chowk.
– Narpatgiri Chowk: Traffic from Narpatgiri Chowk to Maldhakka Chowk will be rerouted through Narpatgiri Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will proceed via 15 August Chowk, Kamala Nehru Hospital, Pawale Chowk, and Kumbhar Ves Chowk to their destinations.
– Banerjee Chowk: Traffic going from Banerjee Chowk to Shahir Amar Sheikh Chowk will be redirected through Banerjee Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will proceed via Power House Chowk, Narpatgiri Chowk, 15 August Chowk, Kamla Nehru Hospital, Pawale Chowk, and Kumbharves Chowk.
– Access to Sassoon Hospital: Emergency patients can access the hospital through the gate adjacent to the Dead House.

Parking Arrangements:
– No parking will be allowed for all types of vehicles on the roads from Maldhakka Chowk to Bolhai Chowk to Pune Station, Bolhai Chowk to Sadhu Vaswani Chowk, Bolhai Chowk to GPO, Bolhai Chowk to Narpatgiri Chowk, Photozinko Press, and Bolhai Chowk to Dr Banerjee Chowk. Exceptions apply for essential services.
– Parking areas are available for devotees visiting the statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in front of the collector’s office:
– SSPMS Ground: Parking for two-wheelers and four-wheelers located next to RTO.
– Tukaram Sheth Shinde Parking Lot: Parking for two-wheelers and four-wheelers located at Pune Station.
– Sassoon Colony: Parking for two-wheelers available.

Visitors are advised to park their vehicles in designated areas and cooperate with the administration.

To accommodate the influx of visitors during Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti in the Aurora Towers area on April 14, 2024, there will be changes in traffic patterns starting at 06:00 and remaining in effect until the rush subsides.

Traffic Changes:
– Dr Coyaji Rd / Tin Tofa Chowk: Traffic from Dr Coyaji Road (Silver Jubilee Motors) towards Nehru Chowk will be rerouted at Tin Tofa Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will proceed via Tin Tofa Chowk, and SBI House Chowk to their destinations.
– ISKCON Mandir Chowk: Traffic heading from ISKCON Mandir Chowk to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue at Aurora Towers will be redirected through ISKCON Mandir Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will take Tin Tofa Chowk and SBI House Chowk to their destinations.
– Nehru Chowk: Traffic from Nehru Chowk to Tin Tofa Chowk will be redirected through Nehru Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles will proceed via Kirad Chowk, Blue Nile Chowk, and SBI House to their destinations.
– Naaz Chowk: Traffic heading to Aurora Towers from Naaz Chowk on Mahatma Gandhi Road will be rerouted through Naaz Chowk. Alternate Route: Vehicles should turn left and proceed via Bagicha Corner to their desired destinations.

Parking Arrangements:
– Parking restrictions will be in place for all types of vehicles on the roads from Dorabji Chowk to Aurora Tower to Tin Tofa Chowk, as well as Arora Tower to Naaz Chowk and Tarapore Road Junction.
– Devotees visiting the Dr. Ambedkar statue at Aurora Tower Chowk should park their vehicles in pay-and-park facilities on Tarapore Road, East Street, and other designated roads.

In anticipation of the celebrations on April 14, 2024, changes will be made to the traffic system in the Vishrantwadi area. These adjustments aim to manage traffic flow effectively and ensure safety during the event. The changes will begin at 15:00 and remain in effect until the congestion eases.

Traffic Changes:
– Vishrantwadi Chowk to Airport/Tingre Nagar: Vehicles heading from Vishrantwadi Chowk towards the airport and Tingre Nagar should turn right at Mental Hospital Corner and then right again at Commerce Zone Chowk to Tingre Nagar Airport Road. Alternatively, they can take a right at Mental Hospital Corner, turn left at the Post Office intersection, and proceed to Airport Road.

– Vishrantwadi Chowk to Bopkhel, Dighi, Bhosari, Alandi (two-wheelers): Two-wheelers heading from Vishrantwadi Chowk to these locations should turn left at Shanti Nagar Chowk, proceed 100 meters, turn right and take the alternate route via Chavan Chawl straight to Fish Market. From there, take a left at Kalas Phata and continue on Alandi Road via Bopkhel.

– Vishrantwadi Chowk to Bopkhel, Dighi, Bhosari, Alandi (rickshaws, cars, heavy vehicles): These vehicles will take the direct route from Chandanwadi Chowk to Khadki via Holkar Bridge.

– Towards Vishrantwadi Chowk from Alandi Mhaske Wasti, Bopkhel, Dighi (two-wheelers): Two-wheelers coming from these areas should take a right turn at Fish Market-Chavan Chawl, continue on the alternate route to Shanti Nagar Tank Road, and proceed on Tank Road towards Khadki or turn left towards Shanti Nagar Chowk and go through Mental Hospital Corner.

– Alandi Mhaske Wasti, Bopkhel, Dighi, coming from Alandi (rickshaws, cars, heavy vehicles) towards Vishrantwadi Chowk: These vehicles coming from Alandi, Dighi towards Bopkhel and Vishrantwadi Chowk should turn back at Bokhel Chowk and be redirected to Dighi Zakat Naka.

– Vehicles coming from Dhanori towards Vishrantwadi Chowk: These vehicles should take Anand Mangal Karyalaya Adjacent Road or Bharat Dhaba Adjacent Road to Airport Road and proceed to 509 Chowk towards Pune.

– Vehicles from Khadki Bazar to Vishrantwadi via Tank Road: Rickshaws, four-wheelers, and heavy vehicles travelling from Khadki Bazar to Vishrantwadi via Tank Road will be banned. These vehicles should use Chandan Chowk via Holkar Bridge and proceed.

– Vehicles from 509 Chowk to Alandi, Dighi, or Mental Corner from Vishrantwadi: Vehicles heading from 509 Chowk to Vishrantwadi should proceed via Jail Road, Golf Chowk, Ambedkar Chowk, Alandi Junction, and Chandran Chowk.

– Vehicles from Porwal Road Junction towards Vishrantwadi: Rickshaws, four-wheelers, and buses coming from Porwal Chowk and Lohegaon towards Vishrantwadi should proceed via Lohegaon Gaon Petrolsatha Chowk to 509 Chowk.

In anticipation of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations, traffic adjustments have been planned for the Sinhagad Road Junction (Dandekar Bridge) area. These changes will be implemented from 19:00 on April 13, 2024, to 02:00 on April 14, 2024, and from 16:00 to 21:00 on April 14, 2024. These adjustments aim to facilitate processions and ensure smooth traffic flow.

Traffic Changes:
– Swargate to Sinhagad Road: Traffic from Savarkar Chowk will proceed to Thorle Bajirao Peshwa Road (Sanas Ground Corner), then to Kalpana Hotel Chowk, N.C. Phadke Chowk, Mangir Baba Chowk, Sena Dutt Police Post Chowk, Bal Shivaji Friend Circle Chowk, Asha Hotel Chowk, and finally reach Sinhagad Road.

– Sinhagad Road to Swargate: Traffic from Asha Hotel Chowk will turn left to Bal Shivaji Friend Circle Chowk, proceed to Sena Dutt Police Post Chowk, Mangir Baba Chowk, N.C. Phadke Chowk, Kalpana Hotel Chowk, and Baburao Sanas Statue Chowk.

– Traffic from Shastri Road: Vehicles coming from Sena Dutt Police Post Chowk will proceed left from Mangir Baba Chowk towards NC Phadke Chowk.

Additionally, since processions will occur from various locations in Pune city to the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar statue, traffic on procession routes will be closed, phased, or diverted through alternate routes as necessary. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience and cooperate with the police.

These changes are designed to manage traffic congestion during the celebrations, and drivers should follow the new directions to ensure a safe and efficient traffic flow.