Pune: Traffic police have requested people to use public transport as much as possible with heavy vehicular rush being expected on both Pune-Mumbai expressway and the old highway this weekend through Tuesday.




The district administration has already ordered the diversion of heavy and large vehicles from the old highway to alternative routes from Thursday to prevent congestion during Shri Ekvira Devi Navratri festival . Highway police have also increased patrolling on the expressway to ensure that heavy vehicles do not occupy the first two lanes.




The order issued by the collector on Tuesday under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, prohibits entry of heavy and large vehicles round the clock on the stretch between Karla Phata and the foothill temple of Shri Ekvira Devi until Oct 20.




It further says that from Oct 15 to 19, heavy and large vehicles will not be allowed on the old Mumbai-Pune highway between Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza in Lonavla and Vadgaon Phata in Vadgaon Maval, from 6 am to 10 pm. Vehicle operators have been advised to use Mumbai-Pune expressway via Urse toll plaza as an alternative route.




With Dasara on Tuesday being a holiday, people who are planning to take off from work on Monday, or take the work-from-home option, may have an extended weekend holiday. Vijay Pandey, a businessman living in Borivali, Mumbai, said, “I am travelling to Pune to visit my friends. I usually drive. But this time, I and my partner are planning to book Vande Bharat to travel. We don’t want to get stuck on the highway,” he said.




Shivaji Pawar , superintendent of police (SP), Highway Traffic Police, Pune range, said heavy vehicles travelling to and from Chakan and Talegaon to Mumbai will be diverted to the expressway, due to which the vehicular movement on the Mumbai-Lonavala stretch of the expressway is expected to increase.




“We have already had a discussion with Pune Rural Police regarding traffic management. We will engage 50 of our total strength of 60 on ground during the weekend. Moreover, rural police station personnel will also be in full force managing the traffic. We are hoping that more people will travel via railways and use public transport during these days as pilgrims are expected to come in large numbers, especially during the weekend and towards the last days of Navaratra till Tuesday. We urge people to restrain from travelling if avoidable during the heavy rush days,” said Pawar, adding that they have been imposing fines on heavy vehicles that do not follow lane discipline.




As per the collector’s order, the heavy vehicles travelling towards Pune on the old Mumbai-Pune highway will be diverted via Kusgaon Budruk toll plaza in Lonavala onto the Expressway and towards Pune city through Urse toll plaza. Similarly, heavy vehicles travelling towards Mumbai will be diverted from Talegaon Phata in Vadgaon through Urse Ghat and onto Mumbai-Pune expressway. Height barriers have been installed at Karla Phata to prevent heavy and large vehicles from proceeding towards Shri Ekvira Devi temple during the restricted period.