Travellers on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway and the old Mumbai–Pune highway may encounter heavy traffic congestion this weekend through Tuesday, October 20, 2026, due to the Shri Ekvira Devi Navratri festival and an extended holiday period surrounding Dusshera.

To manage the large numbers of pilgrims and weekend commuters, traffic police and the district administration have requested citizens to avoid non-essential travel and opt for railways or public transport instead of personal vehicles.

The District Collector has has issued an order Under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, prohibiting the entry of heavy and large vehicles round the clock on the stretch between Karla Phata and the foothill temple of Shri Ekvira Devi until October 20, with height barriers installed at Karla Phata to enforce the restriction.

Moreover, from October 15 to 19, heavy and large vehicles are banned on the old highway between Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza in Lonavla and Vadgaon Phata in Vadgaon Maval from 6 am to 10 pm. These heavy vehicles are being diverted onto the Mumbai–Pune Expressway via the Urse and Kusgaon Budruk toll plazas, which is expected to further increase traffic volume on the Mumbai–Lonavala section of the expressway.

Specifically, heavy vehicles heading towards Pune are being redirected at Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza onto the Expressway and towards Pune city via Urse toll plaza, while Mumbai-bound heavy vehicles are diverted from Talegaon Phata in Vadgaon through Urse Ghat onto the expressway.

To maintain traffic flow, Highway Traffic Police Pune range officials confirmed that 50 out of 60 highway police personnel, alongside Pune Rural Police staff, are deployed on the ground, actively imposing fines on heavy vehicles breaking lane discipline to prevent them from occupying the first two lanes.