Heading to Central Pune? Check Traffic Restrictions and Diversions During Ganeshotsav Between September 18-25
Pune will see extensive traffic restrictions in the central city areas from September 18 to 25 for Ganeshotsav 2026, with parts of Laxmi Road, Shivaji Road and Bajirao Road remaining closed round the clock and several other roads shutting to vehicles every evening from 5 pm. The restrictions have been announced by Pune City Traffic Police to manage crowds and regulate movement during the festival.
The order has been issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic Branch) Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. Fire brigade vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances and other essential service vehicles have been exempted from the restrictions.
Three main stretches will remain closed to general vehicular traffic for 24 hours from September 18. Laxmi Road will be closed between Hamjekhan Chowk and Sevasadan Chowk, Shivaji Road between Gadgil Statue and Rameshwar Chowk, and Bajirao Road between Appa Balwant Chowk and Moti Chowk.
Motorists affected by the Laxmi Road closure can turn right at Dulya Maruti Chowk and proceed via Daruwala Pool. Another option is to turn left at Hamjekhan Chowk and travel via Maharana Pratap Road, Ghorpadi Peth Police Chowki and Shankar Sheth Road.
Traffic travelling from Shivajinagar towards Swargate can avoid the closed section of Shivaji Road by using S.G. Barve Chowk, J.M. Road and Alka Talkies Chowk before proceeding through Tilak Road or Shastri Road. Another diversion will take motorists via Khandoji Baba Chowk or Shimla Chowk, Kamgar Putala Chowk, Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk, Bolhai Chowk and Nehru Road towards Swargate.
A wider set of restrictions will come into force every day from 5 pm and continue until festival crowds disperse. Four-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers will not be allowed on the affected stretches during these hours.
On Laxmi Road, the evening closure will extend from Sevasadan Chowk to Tilak Chowk. Vehicles approaching from Bajirao Road can use Puram Chowk and Tilak Road, while traffic from N.C. Kelkar Road and S.N. Patankar Chowk will be diverted at the intersection.
Shivaji Road will be closed from Rameshwar Chowk to Jedhe Chowk during the evening restrictions. Apart from the J.M. Road and Nehru Road diversions, motorists can travel through Kumbharves Chowk, Pawale Chowk, Satatoti Chowk, Yojana Hotel, Devji Baba Chowk, Hamjekhan Chowk, Maharana Pratap Road, Ghorpadi Peth and Shankar Sheth Road.
Bajirao Road will also be closed between Puram Chowk and Appa Balwant Chowk after 5 pm. Traffic can use Puram Chowk and Tilak Road before turning towards Kelkar Road and Appa Balwant Chowk. The normally one-way section between Telephone Bhavan and Puram Chowk will temporarily operate as a two-way road.
Other evening closures include the stretch from Sinhagad Garage in Ghorpadi Peth to Rashtrabhoushan Chowk, Dinkar Jawalkar Path towards Paygude Chowk and Harabaug Chowk, and Late Anant Balwant Naik Path towards Tilak Road. The narrow Late Anant Balwant Naik Path has no alternative route.
Sanas Road from Gotiram Bhaiya Chowk to Govind Halwai Chowk will also be closed. Motorists can travel via Gaadikhana, Subhedar Taalim and Kasture Chowk. Traffic between Panghanti Chowk and Ganj Peth Chowki will be diverted through Jain Mandir Chowk, Phulwala Chowk and Kasture Chowk.
The road from Ganj Peth Chowk towards Veer Lahuji Vastad Talim Chowk will be closed without an alternative route because of the narrow lane. Restrictions will also apply between Gawkasab Masjid and Central Street Chowki, with motorists diverted either through Babajan Chowk and Sarbatwala Chowk or via Central Street, Indira Gandhi Chowk and Bhagwan Mahavir Chowk.
The Kohinoor Chowk-Babajan Chowk stretch will be closed, with traffic directed through Bhagwan Mahavir Chowk and Sarbatwala Chowk. Restrictions will also cover Jedhe Prasad Rasta and Subhanshaha Rasta around Parshwanath Chowk, Shastri Chowk, Subhan-shah Darga and Sonya Maruti Chowk, with diversions through Subhedar Taalim, Shivaji Road, Phulwala Chowk and Kasture Chowk.
On Guru Nanak Path between Hamjekhan Chowk and Devjibaba Chowk, conditional access through the restricted section will be allowed for vehicles specifically headed towards Devjibaba Chowk during festival hours.
No-parking restrictions will be enforced on both sides of several important roads. These include Shivaji Road from Jijamata Chowk to Mandai Chowk, Mandai Chowk to Shanipar Chowk, Bajirao Road from Shanipar Chowk to Futkaburud Chowk, Appa Balwant Chowk to Moti Chowk, Tilak Road from the S.P. College main gate to Tilak Chowk, and Shastri Road from Senadatt Police Chowki to Tilak Chowk.
Entry into side lanes and alleys connected to closed main roads will be restricted to local residents. Vehicles not belonging to residents of these areas will not be permitted to enter through the closed stretches.
Traffic police may also temporarily relax existing one-way restrictions from 5 pm depending on crowd density. The arrangement covers Kumthekar Rasta, roads in Sadashiv Peth, Phadke Haud Rasta, the Sinhagad Garage-PMC Workshop Chowk stretch on Naik Rasta, and the Kohinoor Hotel-Bhagwan Mahavir Chowk section of M.G. Road.
Vehicular movement may be diverted or stopped altogether in some areas after 5 pm depending on pedestrian crowds. Traffic police have advised citizens to follow diversion signs and instructions from personnel on duty, avoid restricted areas where possible and use public transport during the festival period.
