Traffic Diversions Announced On Pune-Ahmednagar Highway

Every year on January 1, thousands of Dalits, predominantly Ambedkarites, converge at the ‘Jaystambh’ in Perne village near Bhima Koregaon in Pune district. Erected in 1821 by the British, the ‘Jaystambh’ commemorates the historic battle that saw the defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II by the British Army, mainly composed of Dalit Mahars. During the battle on January 1, 1818, around 500 Dalit Mahar soldiers overcame the 28,000-strong force of upper-caste Peshwas. This event holds deep significance for Dalits, symbolising their fight against alleged oppressive Peshwa casteism.

This January 1, as with previous years, a massive turnout is anticipated, and ahead of the event, traffic diversions have been put in place on the Pune-Ahmednagar highway. According to a release by the Pune district administration, the diversions will be in effect from 5pm on December 31 to 12am on January 1.

The traffic changes are as follows:

All types of traffic from Chakan to Shikrapur and Shikrapur to Chakan on both sides will be completely closed. Heavy vehicles coming from Ahmednagar towards Pune will go to Pune via Shirur, Nhawara Phata, Nhawara, Pargaon, Chauphula, Yavat and Hadapsar.

Heavy vehicles going from Pune to Ahmednagar will be diverted from Kharadi exit to Hadapsar via Pune-Solapur highway via Chauphula, Kedgaon to Nhawara, and the Shirur-Ahilyanagar route. Heavy vehicles, trucks, tempos, etc., going to Alandi and Chakan from Solapur highway will go via Hadapsar, Magarpatta and Kharadi exit to Vishrantwadi.

Heavy vehicles, trucks, tempos, etc., going to Ahmednagar from Mumbai will go via Vadgaon Maval, Chakan, Khed, Manchar, Narayangaon, and Alephata. Light vehicles such as cars, jeeps, etc., going to Ahmednagar from Mumbai will go via Vadgaon Maval, Chakan, Khed, Pabal and Shirur.

Meanwhile, the Pune District Collector has issued an order that vacant private land be temporarily acquired until January 2 for the construction of temporary parking lots for vehicles coming to Bhima Koregaon. The collector has also emphasised the need for additional metro services to accommodate people travellling between December 31 and January 1 to Bhima Koregaon. He noted that the number of public buses in service has increased compared to last year. To ensure convenience, he suggested setting up restrooms along roads and implementing traffic management plans to avoid congestion on the event day. Information boards with clear instructions should be installed at strategic locations to guide people to the facilities, he added.