Pune: Traffic on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, Pune-Mumbai Expressway slowed down to a crawl on Friday as huge number of people from the city flock on a holiday ahead long weekend. Owing to Christmas falling on Friday, people got a weekend of three days.

Punekars packed their bags and left for different places like Mumbai, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar and Goa to enjoy the holiday.

CHECK ROUTES WHICH WERE AFFECTED

Pune-Mumbai Expressway

Traffic had slowed down to a crawl at the Pune-Mumbai Expressway close to Khandala and Amrutanjan Bridge. The vehicles moved at a snail speed amid heavy traffic in Lonavala. Due to long holidays, thousands of people throng Lonavala leading traffic congestion.

While those who headed towards Pune from Mumbai also witnessed decent traffic near Panvel and Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai in the morning. Many vehicles travelling during long weekends was high on the route considering people travelling to, Lonavala, Pune and further to Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. The Highway police had to deploy more officials to manage the traffic.

New Katraj tunnel to Jambhulwadi

Traffic movement had gone off track at Katraj new tunnel on Friday. One container broke down at New Katraj tunnel on Pune-Satara highway and it blocked one lane for several hours. The traffic police and officers from the Highway Safety Patrol (HSP) rushed the spot. Two km long traffic jam clogged up on the highway.

Pune-Bangalore Highway

Traffic on Pune-Bangalore Highway slowed to a crawl on Friday, as hordes of people from Pune headed out for the long weekend, courtesy to Christmas holidays. The Christmas day clubbed with Saturday and Sunday prompted people to take a break and head to short-break destinations such as Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and more.

There was a long queue at Pune-Bangalore Highway and according to police officials, measures were taken to prevent traffic jams.