Heavy vehicles barred from Katraj Chowk in Pune due to Metro work; police suggest alternative routes

Work on the underground Metro between Swargate and Katraj in Pune is in full swing. The work is causing daily traffic jams at Katraj Chowk, leaving people stuck for hours. To ease the congestion, traffic police have now taken a major decision. Changes have been made to traffic at Katraj Chowk, aimed particularly at heavy and oversized vehicles.

Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare, Deputy Commissioner of the traffic branch, gave details. He said some changes have been made to keep traffic moving smoothly at Katraj Chowk. Large vehicles such as dumpers, cement mixers, trailers and containers should not come to Katraj Chowk at all. They should take another, alternative road.

Police have closed all roads leading to Katraj Chowk to heavy vehicles. Vehicles coming from the Pune-Satara highway through the old Katraj tunnel will not be allowed beyond Shindewadi. Vehicles coming towards Katraj from Satara Road through the new tunnel will be stopped near Navale Bridge.

Vehicles coming towards Katraj via Warje on the Mumbai-Bengaluru bypass will also be stopped at Navale Bridge. Vehicles coming from the Mumbai side via Warje will likewise be barred there. Heavy vehicles coming from Solapur via Hadapsar, Mantarwadi and the Katraj-Kondhwa Road cannot go beyond Mantarwadi Chowk. Vehicles coming via the Katraj-Kondhwa Road from Bopdev Ghat are also barred.

Vehicles coming towards Katraj via Market Yard, Gangadham and Bibwewadi will not be allowed entry. Vehicles going to Katraj Chowk from Swargate have also been directly barred.

The question is how they should travel. Police have suggested alternative routes. Heavy vehicles should go via Navale Bridge, the new Katraj tunnel, Khed Shivapur, Saswad, Garade, Chimbali, Mantarwadi and Wadki. The second route is Navale Bridge, the new Katraj tunnel, Khed Shivapur, Garade, Bhivri, Bopdev Ghat, Yevalewadi, Pisoli and Mantarwadi.

Police have said that ST buses and passenger vehicles coming from Satara towards Swargate should turn right in the Navale Bridge area and go to Swargate via Katraj.

There are rules for people living in Katraj too. Those travelling from Katraj to Swargate should not pass through Katraj Chowk and should use another road. Most importantly, parking has been banned. Vehicles cannot be parked on either side of the road from Wondercity Society to Katraj Bypass Chowk. Parking is also prohibited on both sides on the stretches from Katraj Bypass Chowk to More Baug, from Bypass Chowk to Rajas Society, and from Bypass Chowk to the old Katraj tunnel.

The changes have been made so that the Metro work can be completed as soon as possible. Residents of Pune have been urged to cooperate with the police and use the alternative routes.