Pune: Fatimanagar Residents Demand Reopening Of T-Junction, Cite Safety Risks And Delays To Emergency Services
Pune: Fatimanagar Residents Demand Reopening Of T-Junction, Cite Safety Risks And Delays To Emergency Services
Renuka Suryavanshi
Pune, 11 August 2025 — The closure of the Fatimanagar T-junction has sparked a wave of anger among residents, with locals and members of the Save Pune Traffic Movement (SPTM) gathering at the chowk on Monday evening to demand immediate action from traffic authorities. Citizens allege that the closure has created serious safety hazards for pedestrians, disrupted public transport, and delayed emergency services. Over 100 residents gathered today at Fatima Nagar to show their anger and seeking response from the traffic police.
Harshad Abhyankar from SPTM explained that Pune Traffic Police recently closed the T-junction and made the chowk “signal free.” As part of the changes, a one-foot cement barrier was installed. “Crossing the road has become extremely difficult and unsafe for people,” Abhyankar said, adding that “not only PMPML buses, but also emergency response vehicles are forced to take a detour — hampering life-saving operations.”
Residents gathered at 5:30 p.m. to urge the traffic police to provide an immediate solution. Among them was 80-year-old local resident Asha Shinde, who told Pune Pulse that the permanent road dividers constructed near Fatimanagar Chowk on the Pune–Solapur Highway have created hardships for the residents.
Nazir Khan, a resident of Himalaya Heights for the past 17 years, said his gym business has suffered a more than 50% loss since the changes were made. He also shared a personal incident: “A friend’s dad suffered a heart attack. We faced a severe issue as the long turn delayed reaching the hospital. The doctors said it was just in time that the patient’s life was saved.”
Other residents described similar difficulties. Gajanan Dharmadhikari, from Kumar Kunj, said his vehicle skidded at the same spot, resulting in an accident.
Himalaya Heights resident Nargis Katrak complained that despite meeting traffic police officials multiple times, no action has been taken. “Police have remained just ignorant about the issue. We are tired of complaining,” she said.
Ann Menezes, a resident of Himalaya House, echoed the frustration. “It is high time that police take some concrete action on the issue. We have been to multiple politicians, but there has been no respite. We now need concrete action that the road divider must be demolished,” she stated.
SPTM noted that the September 3, 2024, notification outlined the changes at Fatimanagar Chowk, but residents say the execution has been detrimental.
During Monday’s demonstration, volunteers wearing helmets formed a human chain to help pedestrians cross safely — a symbolic gesture highlighting the safe infrastructure they believe the city should provide. Protesters emphasised their non-negotiable demands: reopen the T-junction, paint zebra crossings, and switch on traffic signals immediately.
They rejected alternative measures such as merely turning on the signal without reopening the junction, replacing the cement barrier with bollards, or constructing pedestrian subways and foot overbridges, which they argue are unsafe, inaccessible, and discriminatory against seniors, children, and persons with disabilities.
“Pedestrians are being sidelined while prioritising personal motor vehicles,” said Asha Shinde. Nazir Khan added that even schoolchildren are now forced to cross the road in risky conditions because the pedestrian facility they once had has been taken away for the sake of faster vehicular movement.
Dilip Phulpagare, senior police inspector, Wanawadi traffic Division stated that the senior officers
