Pune: Commuters in Pune faced major traffic disruptions Tuesday (September 24) morning due to an incident related to the ongoing metro construction on the Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi route. 

Since 6 a.m., vehicles have been stuck in long queues near Pune University's main gate after iron material from the metro work fell onto the road, causing a traffic standstill.

As part of the metro construction project, an arch had been erected in front of the university's entrance, and a safety net was installed on the arch to protect drivers from any debris. 

Unfortunately, in the early hours of the morning, some iron material fell onto the net, causing it to collapse onto the road below. This led to heavy traffic congestion, with vehicles lining up from the university gate to Shivajinagar.

The incident created severe inconvenience for bus passengers, particularly those traveling by PMPML buses. Several passengers reported that despite having their breakfast while on the bus, the vehicles hadn't moved for hours. 

The frustration was palpable, with both bus passengers and drivers of two- and four-wheelers expressing their anger at the traffic standstill.

While the traffic jam on the route from Shivajinagar to Aundh and Baner has somewhat eased, congestion persists on the road heading from Baner towards Shivajinagar. 

The mishap has further compounded the challenges Pune residents have been facing due to the metro construction, which has already caused deteriorating road conditions and frequent traffic jams in the city.

The Pune Municipal Corporation and metro authorities are now working to remove the debris and restore normal traffic flow. Meanwhile, commuters have been advised to take alternate routes to avoid further delays.