JEE Main Aspirants Struggle To Reach Exam Centre Near Wanowrie Amid Road Closures For Pune Grand Tour 2026
JEE Main Aspirants Struggle To Reach Exam Centre Near Wanowrie Amid Road Closures For Pune Grand Tour 2026
Pune, January 21, 2026: Students appearing for the JEE Main examination in Pune faced severe difficulties in reaching their examination centres on time due to large-scale road closures implemented for an international cycling event, triggering strong reactions from parents over the lack of coordination by the administration and police.
The first session of the JEE Main examination, conducted for admission to prestigious engineering and technology institutes across the country, is being held from January 21 to January 24. However, on the very first day, students in Pune were forced to struggle as several key roads were closed due to the ongoing Pune Grand Tour international cycling competition.
As a result of traffic diversions and roadblocks across multiple areas of the city, JEE Main candidates had to make extraordinary efforts to reach their exam centres on time. One of the major exam centres was MR2205 – iON Digital Zone iDZ Ramtekdi 2, Gate No. 2, Sahyog Digital Hub, Survey No. 107/01, Plot No. 7, Ramtekdi Industrial Estate No. 2, near HP Petrol Pump, Hadapsar, Pune.
Students from Pimpri-Chinchwad and other parts of Pune had no alternative but to pass through the Camp area to reach this centre. However, due to the Pune Grand Tour, all internal roads were closed, forcing police to divert traffic via Jahangir Chowk. This resulted in heavy congestion at Jahangir Chowk, causing massive delays.
It was observed that the entire police force appeared to be deployed exclusively for managing the cycling tour, with little or no arrangements made to facilitate the movement of students appearing for the national-level examination. The JEE exam centre is located nearly two kilometres from Ramtekdi Chowk, yet no special traffic facilitation, signage, or coordination was seen from the exam centre authorities, civic administration, or police.
Further adding to the chaos, a police vehicle was found parked on the road at Wanowrie Police Chowk, worsening the already heavy traffic congestion. When parents questioned the police personnel standing near the vehicle, they were reportedly told that the driver had gone to use the restroom, further fuelling public anger over the lack of traffic management.
Nearly 1,000 to 2,000 parents were seen gathered near the exam centre, but shockingly, there were no arrangements for basic amenities such as public toilets in the area.
Residents from Swargate and Salisbury Park also faced inconvenience, as they were compelled to travel via Jahangir Chowk before reaching Wanowrie due to the diversions. While some candidates managed to reach the centre in about an hour, others took two to two-and-a-half hours, causing immense stress ahead of the crucial examination.
Parents expressed strong resentment, alleging that while every possible effort was made to ensure the smooth conduct of the cycling rally, students appearing for a vital national examination were left to fend for themselves, highlighting serious lapses in planning and coordination by the authorities.
