Pune: The Ganesh immersion procession in Wagholi area, which began at 6 PM on the Pune-Nagar Highway, concluded late at 1 AM, causing significant inconvenience to commuters due to inadequate planning by the police administration.
The long procession led to extensive traffic jams, with vehicle queues stretching up to 7 kilometers in both directions, between Pune and Nagar. Several ambulances were stuck in the gridlock, causing distress to patients and emergency services.
Youth participating in the procession danced recklessly to loud DJ music in the middle of the road, further hampering traffic movement. Vehicles moving both towards Pune and Nagar were reduced to a slow crawl, creating frustration for drivers and passengers alike.
In the suburban area of Wagholi, around 25 Ganesh mandals celebrated the ninth day of Ganeshotsav with grand immersion processions. Each mandal presented elaborate scenes on tractors, accompanied by bright lights and booming DJ music. However, this festive atmosphere came at a cost.
Excessive noise pollution caused by the loud DJ music significantly disturbed the surrounding area, particularly affecting hospitals, residents, small children, women, and the elderly. Local citizens had to endure the disturbance for hours, as the immersion procession dragged on late into the night.
The lack of coordination from the police administration, especially in enforcing time limits and noise control regulations, was evident. Had the police ensured that each mandal started their procession on time and followed set guidelines, the inconvenience to citizens could have been minimized.
Local residents and vehicle drivers expressed their frustration with the situation, pointing out the need for stricter regulation of such events to prevent noise pollution and ensure smoother traffic flow during religious processions.
