When it comes to monsoon, Punekars are not behind anyone in exploring the rainy beauty surrounding the districts in tehsils like Maval, Velhe, Mulshi, and Lonavala.
As soon as pre-monsoon showers hit the district, Punekars take their bikes and cars out and head towards Mulshi, Sinhagad Fort, Khadakwasla cluster dams, and Lonavala-Mahabaleshwar. However, since the last two weeks, the traffic snarls at Sinhagad Fort, Lonavala, and Mahabaleshwar roads from Pune have troubled Punekars. Even on May 18, on Sunday, there was severe traffic congestion from Donje to Khadakwasla, causing hours of delay for both tourists and regular commuters.
The traffic jam began around 6:30 pm, and even by 9 pm, many vehicles were still stuck on the stretch leading toward Khadakwasla. Additionally, Pune-Satara Highway saw a severe traffic jam.
Now, on this weekend, Sinhagad Fort road saw traffic snarls stretching from Sinhagad road to the foothill of the fort. While Mulshi road towards Tamhini saw huge traffic snarls due to the overturning of a tempo carrying hydrochloric acid. Meanwhile, the traffic jams near Lonavala and Khandala halted commuters going to the hill stations. Those going to Mahabaleshwar saw huge traffic snarls from Navale Bridge, even on the roads, due to damage caused by recent rain and ongoing construction.
Last week, when Sinhagad Fort road saw huge traffic snarls, the Pune district administration was to roll out a plan to address the issue, which is not out yet. Meanwhile, the forest department has issued an advisory ahead of the monsoon in the district for trekkers and nature enthusiasts.
Thus, now considering the traffic on main tourist destination roads, it is important to decide accordingly for your weekend travel plan.
