Day 2: Major Traffic Diversions and Road Closures in Pune Tomorrow for Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026
Pune, Jaunary 20, 2026: As the city welcomes the first-ever UCI 2.2-category cycling race, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, residents should brace for significant traffic changes. Following the successful completion of the Hinjewadi-Akurdi stretch today, Stage 2 of the race, dubbed the Maratha Heritage Circuit, is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21.
The Pune City and Rural Police, under orders from District Collector Jitendra Dudi, have announced extensive road closures and diversions between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM to ensure the safety of the 171 international cyclists.
Stage 2 Route: The Maratha Heritage Circuit
Tomorrow’s 105.3 km route is the most challenging of the tour, featuring a total elevation gain of 1,466 meters.
- Start: The Ladies Club, Camp (Flag-off at 12:30 PM)
- Route: Camp → Golibar Maidan → Kondhwa → Yewalewadi → Bopdev Ghat → Saswad → Narayanpur → Kapurhol → Nanded City.
- Finish: Nanded City, Sinhagad Road (Estimated finish by 3:30 PM)
Key Traffic Diversions & Alternate Routes
1. Camp and Kondhwa Area (Pune City Traffic): Traffic on the Saswad-Kondhwa Road will be completely closed.
- Alternate Route: Vehicles heading from Saswad to Kondhwa should use the Saswad-Borawake Mala-Pawarwadi-Dive Ghat-Mantarwadi route.
- Traffic from Kondhwa towards Bopdev Ghat will be strictly prohibited.
2. Saswad to Kapurhol Stretch: The road from Saswad to Kapurhol will be closed to all vehicular movement.
- Alternate Route: Commuters are advised to travel via Saswad-Veer Phata-Parinche-Veer-Tondal-Sarola-Kapurhol.
3. Rajgad and Purandar Talukas:
- Bopdev Ghat: This section will be closed to regular traffic during the race window.
- Mariai Ghat: Traffic heading towards Saswad via Khed Shivapur and Mariai Ghat will be blocked.
- Bhor to Kapurhol: Since there is no viable internal alternate route, this road will be closed until the race passes through. Long-distance travelers should use the Pune-Satara Highway via Sarola and Shindewadi.
4. Nanded City Finish Line: The final stretch at Nanded City on Sinhagad Road will see heavy restrictions from 2:00 PM onwards to facilitate the high-speed finish and the awarding ceremony scheduled for 3:40 PM.
Administrative Appeal
Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil and DCP (Traffic) Himmat Jadhav have urged citizens to avoid these stretches and use the Pune Metro where possible. Heavy vehicles are strictly banned on all race-affected routes throughout the day.
पुण्यामध्ये आयोजित करण्यात आलेल्या @PuneGrandTour च्या पार्श्वभूमीवर करण्यात आलेले वाहतूक व्यवस्थेतील बदल अपर पोलीस आयुक्त मनोज पाटील समजावून सांगत आहेत.#PuneGrandTour #BajajPuneGrandTour #CyclingEvent pic.twitter.com/sVAxYTFogg
— पुणे शहर वाहतूक पोलीस (@PuneCityTraffic) January 17, 2026
The district administration has also recommended that commuters use navigation apps for real-time updates, as the police will reopen roads in a phased manner once the “tail vehicle” of the race convoy clears a specific sector.
For more live updates on Pune, visit our Pune News Today page.
Jayant Mahajan is a writer and contributor at PuneNow, covering the intersection of technology, climate action, and urban governance across Pune. With an extensive background in business management, digital transformation, and academia, Jayant brings real-world insight to local sustainability issues, from civic infrastructure to smart city data ethics. As an educator and founder of the Change Before Climate Change mission, he focuses on how Pune’s institutions and businesses can build future-ready, sustainable systems. Through his columns, Jayant bridges policy, technology, and practical action to help Punekars navigate a rapidly changing urban climate.
