Pune: Severe traffic congestion on the Pune-Nashik National Highway near Bhormala-Tambde Mala (Tal. Ambegaon) has become a daily occurrence, causing immense inconvenience to commuters.
On Sunday, October 13, traffic was backed up from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, with the congestion persisting until late into the evening. The jam stretched for approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometers, caused by the ongoing cement concreting work on one side of the road, which has forced the implementation of single-lane traffic on this busy highway.
Frustrated drivers reported delays of 30 to 45 minutes as they struggled to navigate through the congestion. For the past week, traffic jams have become a nightly ordeal, particularly between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, leading to increasing frustration among commuters.
The road work is taking place on the eastern side of the highway, from Nandi Chowk in Manchar to the Gorakshanath Hill area, where the old tar road has been dug up and is being replaced with cement concrete.
This construction work began right before Diwali, a peak travel season, further aggravating the situation. Single-lane traffic is currently operating on the western side of the road, but the contractor’s failure to maintain a proper flow of vehicles has exacerbated the traffic issues.
Adding to the chaos, two ambulances were caught in the gridlock on Sunday, intensifying concerns about the impact of the congestion on emergency services.
Local leader Santosh Bhor, former Vice-Chairman of Ambegaon Taluka Panchayat Samiti and a resident of Bhormala, voiced strong criticism of the situation, stating that a delegation of villagers would meet with highway authorities within two days to present their grievances.
Travelers returning from religious visits to Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar, including many buses bound for Pune, Mumbai, and Kolhapur, were also delayed due to the traffic jam.
Dilip Shinde, Engineer and Technical Advisor for the Pune-Nashik National Highway, stated, "The contractor responsible for the cement concreting work has been repeatedly instructed to prevent traffic congestion, but the problem persists.
A report will be submitted to senior officials immediately, and strategic measures will be implemented to resolve the issue and prevent further jams."