Pune's roads run empty over Diwali holidays, with less traffic and honking

Pune, which is crowded through the year with traffic jams, long queues at signals and the noise of horns, looks completely changed during the Diwali holidays. Vehicle numbers have dropped on most of the city's roads, which have emptied out.

The reason is that during the holidays IT sector employees, college students and many people who came to Pune from elsewhere for work or business have gone to their villages. As a result, daily movement in the city has fallen sharply. The effect is visible at major junctions, on main roads and on inner lanes. Roads that are usually packed with vehicles now look empty.

Even some roads that are normally narrowed by hawkers, goods displayed in front of shops and encroachments feel relatively less crowded. People who go out for a morning walk or exercise are also getting to experience empty roads. With the long queues at signals shorter, motorists are saving time.

Residents who are usually stuck in traffic are now reaching their destinations in a few minutes. Motorists are enjoying uninterrupted travel.

The scene in public transport has changed too. PMPML buses and the metro, which are usually full of passengers, are relatively less crowded. With less of a scramble for bus seats and fewer crowds at metro stations, commuters are travelling in comfort.

An empty Pune is also being discussed on social media. People are asking jokingly why Pune's roads cannot stay this empty all year. The Diwali holidays have given the city's traffic some relief, if only for a few days.

Sadanand Joshi, a Pune resident, said that because of the year-round jams, one has to keep plenty of time in hand to go anywhere. But during the Diwali holidays the roads are so empty that one reaches the destination in a few minutes. He said it feels good to see the city's calm and its empty roads. According to him, if such an arrangement continued all year, travel would certainly become easier for Pune residents.