Pune: In an effort to alleviate persistent traffic bottlenecks at Pune’s heavily congested Mundhwa Chowk, city traffic authorities and municipal officials have introduced a fresh vehicle diversion strategy. The intersection, a crucial connecting point for traffic from Kharadi bypass, Mundhwa village, Magarpatta, and Ghorpadi, is notorious for its chaotic conditions—particularly during rush hours. Issues such as long queues, vehicles driving on the wrong side, and two-wheelers encroaching onto footpaths have become regular occurrences.
Under the revamped traffic plan, direct right turns at the chowk will now be banned. To maintain smoother and signal-free flow, vehicles will be required to use U-turns instead. For instance, commuters coming from Mundhwa will no longer be allowed to take a direct right turn toward Ghorpadi. Similar restrictions will be enforced for traffic moving between Kharadi, Magarpatta, and Ghorpadi.
While the new rules are aimed at reducing traffic snarls and minimizing wait times at signals, the response from regular road users has been mixed. A trial conducted on Sunday highlighted several issues—most notably the lack of adequate space for U-turns, which proved especially troublesome for larger vehicles like buses and trucks.
Frequent travelers along routes such as Mundhwa-Keshavnagar to Ghorpadi and Kharadi voiced concerns that the changes could result in longer commutes. Many believe the rerouting may provide only a short-term solution unless substantial infrastructure upgrades—such as a flyover or bridge—are carried out.
Authorities have announced that the traffic modifications will be implemented in phases over the coming days, beginning with a two-week trial period. Feedback from the public will be gathered through a planned meeting with residents and daily commuters before deciding whether to make the changes permanent.
Some action has already been taken to clear encroachments near the junction, but locals insist that more space must be freed up. Citizens have proposed the development of wider, dedicated left-turn lanes as a means to further improve traffic efficiency in the area.
