Pune Cricket Fans: Important Traffic Changes for Upcoming India vs. New Zealand Test Match

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande

Pimpri Chinchwad, 22nd October 2024: From 24th to 28th October, the Indian National Cricket Team will play their second five-day Test match of the three-match series against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. The match is scheduled at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, Pune. With the recent rise in popularity of Test cricket and New Zealand being part of the elite Test-playing nations—South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA countries)—a larger-than-usual crowd is expected.

As the stadium is under the jurisdiction of the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC), Deputy Commissioner of Police Bapu Bangar, in charge of the Traffic Branch, PCPC, has announced traffic changes and adjustments for the event.

Under the Dehu Road Traffic Division, the following changes have been implemented:

For people travelling from Mumbai towards Pune with a VVIP/VIP or emergency service pass, they should use the right-side service road of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, i.e., Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway.

1) For spectators coming from Mumbai:

a) Exit the Expressway at the Dehu Road exit, take a left towards the Service Road connecting Mamurdi Village, and then proceed towards the stadium and parking area.
b) Vehicles coming from the Expressway should make a U-turn at Mukai Chowk head towards the stadium and park via the service road near Symbiosis Skills and Professional University in Kiwale.
c) At Shitladevi Mandir, take a left and proceed to the stadium and park via the service road near Lekha Farm.
d) Vehicles coming to Mukai Chowk via Dehu Road Central Chowk should descend at Kiwale Chowk and, through the Mamurdi underpass, take a left towards the MH 4 tunnel, continue to Kunal Icon Chowk, and proceed to park.

Note: Vehicles coming from Dehu Road Central Chowk or Somatane Phata are not permitted to take the underpass near Mamurdi Jakat Naka and then proceed to Mamurdi Village via Shitladevi Mandir.

2) For spectators coming from Pune:

a) After crossing the bridge over the Pawana River near Hotel Sentosa, take the service road of the Expressway and proceed towards the stadium and parking.
b) People coming from Nigdi or the Hanging Bridge should travel via Ravet Chowk, Bhondve Chowk, Mukai Chowk, and Krushna Chowk, then turn right towards the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and take the service road on the left to reach the stadium and parking.

Additional Instructions:
– From Gahunje Bridge to the Y Junction towards the stadium, only vehicles with car passes and emergency service vehicles will be allowed.
– No vehicles will be permitted to access Ruhiz Biryani in Mamurdi via Masulkar Farm. The alternate route is via Mamurdi Jakat Naka.
– All vehicles are prohibited from travelling from Mari Mata Chowk, Kiwale Nala to Masulkar Farm. The alternate route is via Krushna Chowk.
– After the match or day concludes, no vehicles will be allowed to enter Kiwale from Mukai Chowk Bus Stop or the Kiwale underpass towards Mumbai. The alternate route is to take a left from Mukai Chowk and proceed to the desired destination via Sameer Lawns, Kiwale Gaon.

– All heavy vehicles are banned from travelling from Mamurdi to Kanetkar Bungalow or Gahunje Stadium from 7 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM until the match concludes.
– Heavy vehicles are also banned from travelling from Krushna Chowk to the Mamurdi underpass and on the service road of the old Mumbai-Pune Highway near Mamurdi Goan to Gahunje Stadium during these times.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Bapu Bangar has urged all travellers to cooperate with these changes.