Why Chakan Traffic Is Getting Worse: Potholes, Narrow Roads and a Long-Pending Bypass

Pune, 12th August 2026: Poor road conditions and severe traffic congestion are creating major problems in Chakan’s industrial belt, affecting thousands of workers, businesses and transporters every day.

Chakan, one of Maharashtra’s major industrial hubs, has been grappling with traffic congestion for nearly a decade. Workers and entrepreneurs are forced to spend hours stuck in traffic, resulting in lost working hours and financial losses for businesses.

The Pune-Nashik Highway and the Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur Road are the two main routes serving the industrial area. However, several stretches of these roads are narrow and badly damaged. Potholes across the carriageways make it difficult for heavy vehicles and other motorists to move smoothly.
Roads in Kharabwadi, Ranubai Mala, Mahalunge and Khalumbre are among the worst-affected stretches. Drivers frequently have to slow down or change lanes to avoid potholes, while the movement of heavy vehicles on narrow roads further adds to congestion.

The internal roads in the industrial areas are also affected by potholes and incomplete road works. With traffic piling up on multiple routes simultaneously, the entire Chakan area regularly faces gridlocks.

Major congestion points
The key problem areas include:
Pune-Nashik Highway: Chimbli Phata, Kuruli Phata, Alandi Phata, Talegaon Chowk and Ambethan Chowk.
Talegaon-Chakan Road: Narrow old bridges at Khalumbre, Kharabwadi and Mahalunge.
Chakan-Ambethan Road: Birdawadi Phata, where several roads converge.

Residents and industrialists have blamed the lack of coordination between the traffic police, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD) and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for the worsening situation.
They have also raised concerns over encroachments and unauthorised cuts in road dividers, which they say are contributing to traffic congestion.

Immediate measures sought
Residents and businesses have called for the immediate widening of major roads and junctions. They have also suggested restricting heavy vehicles during morning and evening peak hours and creating dedicated parking terminals for trucks and other heavy vehicles.
They have sought the deployment of cranes on major routes to quickly remove vehicles that break down and block traffic. Action against unauthorised rickshaw stands and the creation of designated rickshaw parking areas have also been suggested.

Workers and businesses affected
The daily traffic jams are affecting both employees and industrial units.
“I spend nearly two hours every day in traffic. A large part of my working day is lost just travelling,” a worker said.
Industrialists said delays in the transportation of raw materials and finished products were affecting their operations and increasing costs.
Residents have also expressed concern about emergency services, particularly ambulances, which can struggle to move through heavily congested roads.

Chakan bypass project remains pending
The long-pending Chakan bypass is being seen as a major long-term solution to the traffic problem. Once completed, the bypass could divert a significant share of through traffic away from the congested parts of Chakan.
However, delays in the project have frustrated residents and industrialists. They have questioned whether administrative delays are becoming a major obstacle to the industrial development of Chakan.