Mahiyar Rohinton Patel, Pune
As Ganpati Bappa has completed his time amongst the people and returns to his abode in Kailasa, Punekars are going to go out in full force and enthusiasm to accompany Bappa on his final journey. The Pune City police has announced that certain roads will be closed for the easy passage of the Ganpati Pandals and their retinues.
The road closures have been planned in a phased manner starting at 7 am on Tuesday, 17th September. Barricades and obstruction equipment will be put up by the police authorities across Shivaji Road and Laxmi Road from 7 am on Tuesday. Guru Nanak Road and Bagade Road, will be closed to pliers from 9 am. Ganesh Kelkar Road will be closed off by 10 am. Bajirao Road, Shastri Road and Kumthekar road will be barred by 12 pm.
The traffic department has also issued a notice banning all heavy vehicles from entering the city on the 17th and 18th. To ease the traffic due to multiple road closures, the authorities have decided to temporarily form a ring road, which will use sections of many different arterial roads to form a ring around the city so as to relieve the pressure from the centre of the city. All the connecting alleys to the arterial roads which are going to be used for the ring road will be sealed off, to ensure a smooth running of vehicles on the road with very limited and specifically designated entry and exit points.
The roads which are marked down for the use of the ring road are as follows: Karve Road, Senapati Bapat Road, Ganeshkhind Road, Ambedkar Road, Nehru Road, Shivneri Road, Satara Road, Sinhagad Road and Shastri Road.
Amol Zende, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Transport Branch Pune City has said that no parking will be allowed on the PMPML premises, apart from essential service vehicles like police cars and ambulances. A number of bus route changes as well as no parking orders have been given across the city.
In the Ganesh Visarjan traffic advisory released by the authorities, certain designated traffic areas have been created. They are as follows: New English School Tilak Road, Shivaji Akhada parking Road, Desai College, Hamalwada, Gogate School, SP College, Riverbed (from Bhide bridge to Gadgill bridge), Peshwa Road, Ranade Road, PMPML Mandan Puram Chowk, Peshwa Park, COEP ground, New English School Ramanbaug, Marathwada College, Sanjivani Medical College Ground, Apte Prashala, Fergusson College, Jain Hostel BMCC Road Ground, Patil Parking Plaza, Abasaheb Garware College, Nilayam Talkies, Ganesh Mala to Rajaram Bridge and Congress House Road, Parvati to Dandekar Bridge and Harijivan Hospital.