Hinjewadi Paralyzed by Record Traffic Jam on June 17 Amid Rains, Metro Work, and Crumbling Roads
Pune, June 18, 2025 — Hinjawadi, Pune’s bustling IT corridor, witnessed one of its worst traffic breakdowns in recent memory on June 17, as heavy rains, metro construction, and dilapidated road conditions brought vehicular movement to a near standstill. The gridlock left thousands of commuters stranded for hours, with many taking to social media to vent their frustration and share harrowing accounts of their daily ordeal.
Commute Turns Into a Nightmare
A short commute from Hinjawadi Phase 2 to Ravet took over 1 hour and 30 minutes, with roads near Marunji Wipro Circle completely choked. Poor road conditions, rampant wrong-side driving, and unrelenting pollution further aggravated the situation. One commuter summed it up bluntly: “An honest taxpayer deserves none of this.”
Major Bottlenecks Identified
- Lemontree Circle to Ruby Hall Clinic: Took 25 minutes to cross just one short stretch around noon due to a jammed left lane.
- Amsterdam Signal: Non-functional traffic lights added to the chaos.
- Warje to Hinjawadi Phase 3 via Sus-Nande-Chande: Commuters reported round-trips lasting 2.5 hours each way, calling it the “worst day ever.”
- Kokne Chowk to Phase 1: Two-wheeler riders were stuck for over 1.5 hours.
- Bhumkar Chowk: A persistent choke point where four lanes narrow into two, worsened by wrong-side traffic.
Residents, Parents Left Helpless
The Global E-Homes community raised concerns over a major sinkhole near their premises, making school transport routes impassable. Parents were forced to drop off children near Wipro Circle, describing it as a “helpless situation.” One cab ride from Phase 2 to Wakad — a mere 7 km — took two hours, while an auto passenger made it home well before the cab rider.
A Crisis Years in the Making
Locals argue this is not an isolated incident but the result of 18 years of poor planning, unregulated infrastructure expansion, and neglected road maintenance. Critical junctions like Bhumkar Chowk continue to operate without lasting fixes. Some sarcastically suggested applying for a Guinness World Record: “Most Bikes in One Jam Under a Flyover.”
The Blame Game
While many hold the metro project and rains responsible, others point fingers at corporate offices and their leadership for operating in a zone with inadequate infrastructure. Despite being a major economic hub, Hinjawadi continues to suffer from traffic nightmares that show no signs of easing.
No official response had been issued by the MIDC or Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
