Heavy Traffic Snarls on Pune–Bengaluru Highway; Long Queues of Vehicles Stretch for Kilometers
Pune – 19, October: Severe traffic congestion and road obstructions on the Pune–Bengaluru Highway have caused major inconvenience for motorists, passengers, and local residents. Many commuters expressed anger after being stuck for hours in long traffic jams.
At Kolhapur Naka, deep pits dug for air pipeline work and roadblocks between Kolhapur Naka, Warunji Phata, and other nearby stretches have led to heavy congestion on both sides of the highway. Vehicles were lined up for several kilometers, while in Karad, roadside vendors had set up stalls wherever possible, further adding to the chaos and crowd.
With Diwali shopping in full swing, people venturing out to markets found themselves trapped in traffic for hours. Ongoing six-lane expansion work on the Pune–Bengaluru Highway has worsened the situation. Sharp turns, narrow lanes, dug-up roads, and vehicle breakdowns have brought traffic to a near standstill in many areas.
The heavy festive rush only made matters worse, as motorists tried to maneuver their vehicles through any available space, intensifying the gridlock. Due to the widening work, traffic from both directions has been diverted to service lanes. In the Malakapur stretch, traffic is usually dense, but on this day, the situation turned critical as the number of vehicles surged.
The combination of ongoing construction, diverted routes, and the festive rush created severe congestion on both carriageways of the highway. Even short two-minute distances were taking up to half an hour to cover.
As Diwali approaches, crowds have flooded markets for last-minute shopping, only to face hours-long delays while returning home. The massive jams, stretching several kilometers, and the roadside hustle of vendors have turned the entire stretch into a scene of chaos and frustration for travelers.
