Pune: Heavy traffic congestion occurred at the Somatane and Urse toll plazas on Sunday (August 18) as tourists and residents returning from extended holidays crowded the roads.

The traffic jam, which persisted for six hours despite the best efforts of traffic police, caused significant delays and inconvenience.

Many travelers took advantage of the long weekend by taking an additional day off, leading to a rush of people heading out of their homes as early as Thursday (August 16).

After enjoying their holidays, a large number of vehicles headed back on Sunday morning, causing a sudden spike in traffic around 11 AM at the Somatane toll plaza on the Pune-Mumbai Highway and the Urse toll plaza on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway.

The traffic congestion began around 10 AM and lasted for six hours, leading to slow-moving traffic throughout the day and considerable frustration for regular commuters.

Service Road Congestion:

To avoid the main road traffic, many drivers diverted to service roads. However, encroachments by vendors selling fruits, vegetables, and food items on the service road near Somatane exacerbated the congestion. Although traffic police worked diligently to manage the situation, the high volume of vehicles limited their efforts.

Pooja Ranade, returning from Mumbai, said, "Sunday's traffic was an absolute nightmare. The line of cars seemed endless, and we were barely moving for hours. It was frustrating to see that even the service roads were jammed because of the vendors. What should have been a two-hour drive turned into a six-hour ordeal. It was exhausting and stressful, especially after what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday."