Authorities in Pune and Raigad districts have rolled out a series of traffic restrictions to manage the expected surge of holidaymakers and ensure public safety during the New Year celebrations. The measures, which include diversions and bans on heavy vehicles, will be in effect across key tourist corridors from December 30, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
Pune's Lonavla-Pavana Belt Gets Traffic Diversions
In Pune district, the focus is on the popular Lonavla–Pavana belt, a major draw for tourists from Mumbai and Pune. Pune Collector and District Magistrate Jitendra Dudi has issued an order to enforce traffic diversions in this region starting from the midnight of December 30, 2025, until the midnight of January 1, 2026. The primary goal is to prevent severe gridlocks in the Pavananagar market and nearby villages caused by the heavy influx of visitors.
Under the new plan, vehicles travelling from Pune and Mumbai towards Kamshet will be prohibited from entering the Pavananagar market. Instead, they will be rerouted via the Yelse junction, passing through Shivli, Kothurne, Malavandi Phata, Bramhanoli, Waru Phata, and Javan road. However, vehicles with destinations like Pavananagar, Kalegaon, Ambegaon, Shindgaon, Pale, Dhamandhara, and Dudhiware, along with all heavy vehicles, are permitted to proceed.
To streamline the flow, several stretches have been designated as one-way routes. These include the Bramhanoli–Waru–Kothurne–Shivli road and the Shivli–Yelse road. Local traffic moving from Bramhanoli, Waru, Kothurne, and Shivli towards Yelse will face restrictions and must use alternative routes via the Pavana river bridge, Kalegaon Phata, and Pavana market. Additional curbs are also in place for vehicles coming from Tung, Morwe, Chavsar, and Javan heading towards Pavana Nagar and Kamshet.
Raigad District Bans Heavy Vehicles on Key Highways
Meanwhile, the Raigad district administration has announced a separate set of restrictions targeting heavy vehicles. A ban on the movement of such vehicles will be enforced on several crucial highways from 8 am on December 31, 2025, until midnight on January 1, 2026.
The prohibition applies to the following major routes:
- Khopoli–Pali–Patalganga to Kashedi on Mumbai–Goa National Highway-66
- Mangaon–Tamhini Ghat on National Highway 753(F)
- Khopoli–Pali–Patalganga to Wakan on National Highway 548(A)
- Wadkhal to Alibaug on National Highway 166(A)
- Chowkphata to Karjat state highway
- Alibaug to Murud state highway
- Alibaug to Mandwa state highway
Exemptions for Essential Services
Recognising the need for continuity in vital services, the authorities have granted exemptions to specific categories of vehicles. The ban will not apply to trucks and tankers carrying essential commodities. This includes supplies of milk, petrol, diesel, cooking gas, medicines, oxygen, vegetables, and water. Furthermore, emergency service vehicles such as fire brigade trucks and ambulances are also exempt from these restrictions, ensuring that critical services remain unaffected during the holiday period.
These coordinated measures by the Pune and Raigad administrations highlight a proactive approach to managing the annual year-end tourist rush. By implementing planned diversions and targeted bans, officials aim to reduce congestion, minimise travel delays, and most importantly, enhance road safety for all travellers during the festive season.
