Ashadhi Wari Palkhi 2026: Check Traffic Diversions, Road Closures, and Alternative Routes Between July 11-18

Pune, June 30, 2026: The Pune District Administration and local police departments have issued a comprehensive traffic advisory ahead of the annual Ashadhi Wari Palkhi procession. With the official Prasthan (departure) of the Shri Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi from Alandi scheduled for July 8, 2026, extensive traffic diversions and absolute road closures will be implemented across Pune’s rural and connecting highway corridors between July 11 and July 18, 2026.

Additionally, an immediate pre-Palkhi heavy vehicle restriction has been enforced on the Pune–Solapur Highway to facilitate urgent infrastructure repairs before the pilgrimage begins. Commuters, logistics operators, and local residents are advised to plan their travel using the designated alternative routes detailed below.

Pre-Palkhi Emergency Update: Pune–Solapur Highway Restrictions

To ensure the safety of millions of walking devotees (warkaris), the administration has ordered immediate emergency repair work on the railway flyover located at Theur Phata.

• Effective Period: Active immediately until midnight on July 8, 2026.
• The Restriction: All heavy vehicular traffic moving from Theur Phata toward Lonikand is completely banned.
• Official Alternative Route: Heavy vehicles must divert at Kedgaon Chowphula, traveling via Nhavare → Talegaon Dhamdhere → Shirur, before looping back toward Lonikand.

Phase-by-Phase Rural Corridor & Ghat Closures (July 11 – July 18)

District Collector Jitendra Dudi has signed off on a sequential shutdown of key outer connectivity lines as the procession moves through the district.

Phase 1: Pune to Saswad Leg (Dive Ghat & Bopdev Ghat Absolute Closure)

• Effective Period: From July 11 (2:00 AM) to July 13 (12:00 AM Midnight).
• The Closure: Both Dive Ghat and Bopdev Ghat will be closed to all standard vehicular traffic. No vehicles will be allowed to climb or descend these ghats during this 46-hour window.
• Alternative Route for Pune to Saswad: Commuters must travel via Khadi Machine Chowk – Katraj – Kapurhol.
• Alternative Route for Saswad to Pune: Vehicles must be rerouted via Garade – Khed Shivapur.

Phase 2: Saswad to Jejuri & Jejuri to Walhe Stretches

• Effective Period: From July 13 (2:00 AM) to July 14 (12:00 AM Midnight).
• The Closure: The primary state highways linking Pune to Nira via Saswad, Jejuri, and Walhe will experience complete closures during the holy halts.
• Official Alternative Route: Commuters traveling through this sector must bypass the entire dynamic processing zone by navigating via Zendewadi – Pargaon Memane – Supe – Morgaon – Nira.

Phase 3: Walhe to Lonand Section

• Effective Period: July 15, strictly from 2:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• The Closure: A temporary afternoon lockdown of direct connecting routes between Pune and Nira.
• Official Alternative Route: Motorists must use the outer loop via Saswad – Jejuri – Morgaon during these specific hours.

Phase 4: Beyond Lonand to Phaltan Corridor

• Effective Period: Long-term diversion in effect from July 15 through July 18.
• The Closure: Direct regional highways linking Pune to Phaltan and Lonand will be entirely cut off from general traffic.
• Official Alternative Route: All heavy and passenger vehicles will be officially diverted via Shirwal in both directions.

City Administration & Live Updates

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) are coordinating encroachment clearance drives along the urban stretches of the dynamic route, specifically focusing on the Alandi Road junctions, Kalas Phata, and the terminal halting zones in Nana Peth and Bhavani Peth. Emergency health clinics and water stations are being deployed along these corridors.

For real-time traffic updates, dynamic roadblock notifications, and changing micro-diversions within city limits, commuters can monitor the Pune City Police dedicated digital traffic portal at diversion.punepolice.gov.in. Heavy transport operators are strictly advised to stick to NH-48 via Kapurhol/Shirwal to completely circumvent the pilgrimage perimeter.