Pune: On Saturday (October 19), Pune’s central markets saw a surge of Diwali shoppers, but the joy of festive shopping was marred by severe traffic jams due to a lack of planning.

Encroachments, indiscriminate parking, and unruly driving in the city's busiest areas—Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road, and Kelkar Road—brought traffic to a standstill, leaving many citizens frustrated.

The increased presence of four-wheelers, as many families opted for cars to reach shopping areas, worsened the situation. Normally congested areas struggled to accommodate the sudden influx of vehicles.

In the absence of sufficient parking facilities, many shoppers chose to park their cars on the main roads, often with a family member staying behind in the vehicle. Others parked their vehicles in no-parking zones, close to shops, in an attempt to avoid fines and quickly finish their shopping.

As a result, Laxmi Road was completely blocked, and the situation became even more chaotic when drivers, attempting to take shortcuts through smaller lanes, started driving in the wrong direction.

The traffic jam extended into nearby lanes, with no one willing to reverse their vehicles, leading to heated arguments between drivers.

In previous years, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the traffic police had collaborated to ease traffic during the festive season. School and institution grounds near Laxmi Road were opened up for free parking, and additional traffic personnel were deployed on the streets during weekends.

However, this year, no such arrangements were visible, further contributing to the traffic woes. With even larger crowds expected on Sunday for Diwali shopping, the absence of proper planning could result in even worse traffic conditions, dampening the shopping experience for many.

Faraskhana Traffic Division Officer Sameer Sawant highlighted that many citizens parked their vehicles near the riverbed and walked down Shivaji Road to Laxmi Road for shopping.

Other areas, such as Ravivar Peth, Bohri Aali, and Phadke Haud Chowk, also experienced heavy crowds. Some shoppers were seen purchasing goods while sitting on their two-wheelers, and vehicles were parked wherever space was available, adding to the congestion.