Pune: Commuters along the Mumbai–Bangalore Highway in Pune, particularly between Navale Bridge and Warje, are growing increasingly frustrated with the daily traffic congestion that shows no signs of improvement. Taking to social media, many have voiced their anger and appealed for swift action from authorities.
“Navale Bridge, Bangalore–Pune Highway. Every day there’s a 2 km traffic jam. I’m never able to reach the office on time. Please deploy traffic police and clear the jam. It’s happening every single day,” wrote a weary commuter. Another user echoed the sentiment, saying, “Same struggle every morning. Traffic at a standstill from Narhe to Warje Bridge. Traffic management is the worst.”
Notorious for regular accidents and persistent congestion, the Navale Bridge stretch becomes even more problematic during the monsoon season, compounding the woes of daily travelers.
Key trouble spots include Wadgaon Bridge and Warje Bridge, which act as choke points due to poor lane design and inconsistent road widths. Service roads feeding into Warje and Navle Bridges lack uniformity in lane distribution, contributing heavily to the daily pile-up of vehicles. These stretches are crucial routes for traffic heading toward Mumbai, Goa, and Bengaluru, amplifying the severity of the issue.
In response to these chronic bottlenecks, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a ₹52.68 crore infrastructure project aimed at easing the pressure. The plan involves expanding the current road by adding four new lanes—two on each side—over a 1.605 km stretch. Officials hope this upgrade will significantly improve traffic flow in key areas like Warje, Vadgaon, Narhe, and Ambegaon.
While the project promises long-term relief, commuters are calling for immediate short-term measures, such as better traffic management and increased deployment of personnel, to make their daily journeys bearable in the interim.
