Pune: Traffic Chaos Grips Baner-Balewadi As Rain, Roadwork And Encroachments Trigger Gridlock
Pune: Traffic Chaos Grips Baner-Balewadi As Rain, Roadwork And Encroachments Trigger Gridlock
Pune, July 26, 2025: Massive traffic congestion brought life to a standstill across Baner, Balewadi, and surrounding areas on Friday morning, with vehicles stuck for hours in bottlenecks that stretched from Radha Chowk to parts of Pashan, Hinjewadi, and Mhalunge. The worst affected period was between 9 am and noon, with commuters covering less than a kilometre in over an hour.
The traffic deadlock was triggered by a combination of ongoing Metro construction, pothole-riddled roads, and encroachments narrowing already constrained carriageways. Many frustrated residents said the situation has become a daily ordeal, worsened by rains and poor road management. Key connecting roads, such as the one between Baner and DP Road, were overwhelmed, further intensifying the jams.
Poor traffic discipline — including lane-cutting, wrong-side driving, and illegal parking — compounded the chaos. Affected commuters also blamed the lack of traffic wardens and patchy responses from the authorities. The Metro work has significantly reduced the usable width of Baner Road, and debris and broken chamber lids have added to the hazards.
The incomplete service road between Ravet and Katraj, as well as the missing link from Balewadi to Wakad Bridge, continue to burden Radha Chowk. Residents pointed out that addressing these gaps could immediately reduce congestion by at least 20%.
Traffic police later cleared some key chokepoints, especially around Mhalunge Gaon, where wrongly parked vehicles caused backflow leading up to Radha Chowk. Officers admitted to challenges posed by limited staff and increasing vehicle density. With slow-moving traffic during rains, vehicle outflow significantly reduces, causing quick build-ups.
Officials stressed the need for better coordination between Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad authorities for effective traffic management across shared routes. Meanwhile, commuters remain stranded in a recurring cycle of roadblocks and delays.
