Pune: Efforts by Pune’s traffic authorities to ease congestion on the Pune-Ahilyanagar Nagar) Road appear to have fallen short, as commuters continue to grapple with long traffic jams despite recent changes. The signal-free corridor between Gunjan Chowk and Wagholi was intended to streamline travel, but daily bottlenecks now stretch up to 4 to 5 kilometers during rush hours.
The revamped 9-kilometer stretch, featuring four U-turns and closed junctions, was aimed at improving traffic flow. However, many daily commuters say the redesign has only added to confusion and delays. Although the traffic department claims a travel time reduction of 15–19 minutes, this has been strongly contested by frequent road users.
Frustrated locals say the real culprit is the persistent movement of heavy vehicles during daytime hours, in violation of existing restrictions. These vehicles often clog main lanes, making travel difficult and increasing the risk of accidents.
Residents argue that the newly introduced U-turns and closed signals have done little to help and, in some cases, have worsened the traffic situation. Despite the deployment of traffic personnel at key intersections, congestion remains a daily struggle.
A senior traffic official admitted that occasional pile-ups occur during peak periods but insisted that, overall, the traffic flow remains under control through most parts of the day.
