Dahi Handi Celebrations: Pune Traffic Police Issue Advisory With Alternative Routes

Pune is all set for Dahi Handi celebrations as the festive spirit of ‘Gokulashtami’ takes over the city.

To alleviate traffic congestion, Pune Traffic Police have announced a series of road closures and traffic diversions through alternative routes. The Dahi Handi celebrations will start from 5pm on August 27, and the diversions will remain in force until handis are broken, local mandals wrap up programmes and roads are cleared for traffic.

An order in this regard was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amol Zende. Major roads, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Road, Tilak Road, Laxmi Road, and Bajirao Road will be closed for traffic.

Commuters traveling from Shivaji Road to Swargate will be diverted via SG Barve Chowk, Jangli Maharaj Road, Khandoji Baba Chowk and can then take either Tilak Road or Shastri Road. Vehicles from Bajirao Road to Shivajinagar via Puram Chowk will be diverted via Tilak Road and Fergusson College Road.

Commuters can also travel to Senadatt Chowk from Puram Chowk. To go from SG Barve Chowk to Pune Municipal Corporation, people will have to take the Jangali Maharaj Road route and take a left from Jhansi Chi Rani Chowk. The traffic will be one-way from Budhwar Chowk to Appa Balwant Chowk.

Traffic will not be allowed from Rameshwar Chowk to Shanipar and commuters will be asked to take alternate routes. The traffic route from Sonya Maruti Chowk to Seva Sadan Chowk via Laxmi Road will be put on hold and vehicles will be diverted from Sonya Maruti Chowk and towards Phadke Haud.

Traffic from Shivaji Road going towards Ganesh Road via Jijamata Chowk and then to Daruwala Bridge will be diverted via Gadgil Statue, Kumbharves Chowk, Pawale Chowk and Old Sat Toti Police chowki.

Traffic on Ganesh Road will be closed from Daruwala Bridge. Vehicles that need to travel to Devjibaba Chowk and Phadke Haud will be diverted via Apollo Talkies, Narpatgiri Chowk, Daruwala Bridge and Doodh Bhatti.

Pune traffic police have urged residents to plan their travel routes accordingly and expect some delays during the peak festive hours.

Several groups compete to break handis tied up high at various celebration sites in the city. Human pyramids are then formed to break the pots, symbolising Lord Krishna’s favourite childhood activity. The local police stations and civic bodies have issued safety guidelines for the celebrations.