Traffic Diversion on Old Mumbai-Pune Highway Leads to Congestion at Dehu Road
Traffic Diversion on Old Mumbai-Pune Highway Leads to Congestion at Dehu Road
Pune, January 23: Traffic was diverted on the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway on Wednesday due to bridge construction work being carried out by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) near Kusgaon and Dongargaon. The diversion caused severe congestion at Dehu Road, with vehicles lined up from Shelarwadi to Dehu Road.
The MSRDC is constructing a flyover at Kusgaon and Dongargaon to connect Lonavala, Paud, and Pune via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. To facilitate the construction work, traffic will be diverted daily from 12 PM to 3 PM until Friday, January 24.
On the first day of the diversion, traffic traveling from Mumbai to Pune was rerouted from Walwahn to the Varsoli toll plaza (NH-48) via Dehu Road. This diversion led to significant traffic jams, particularly near the Somatane toll plaza. Vehicles were backed up for approximately 5 kilometers, stretching from the Amarjai Devi Temple in Shelarwadi to Dehu Road. The congestion lasted for about an hour, with vehicles moving at a very slow pace.
The situation was further exacerbated when a truck broke down near the traffic signal at Dehu Road, delaying the flow of traffic. Frustrated drivers resorted to driving in the wrong direction, worsening the gridlock. However, Dehu Road traffic police quickly arrived at the scene, removed the stalled truck, and restored normal traffic.
Highway police reported that the scheduled three-hour construction work was completed in 90 minutes, with no major traffic complaints received. Traffic remained clear in Kamshet, Kanhe Phata, and Vadgaon areas. Traffic Deputy Commissioner Bapu Bangar confirmed that police deployment ensured smooth traffic management throughout the diversion period.
