Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The illegal entry of heavy vehicles into the Shivajinagar underpass continues to be a major cause of traffic congestion. To address this, the traffic police sent three letters to the engineers of the Public Work Department’s (PWD) World Bank project, requesting that the height of the iron arches on both sides be reduced. However, there has been no response so far. Even after the municipal corporation took the initiative, citizens and traffic officials are questioning whether the problem will be resolved.
The underpass was inaugurated on February 15, 2025. Instead of easing traffic, the underpass has added to commuters’ woes, particularly for residents travelling between Satara and Deolai. During the monsoon, waterlogging occurs, and heavy congestion is reported daily during office hours, especially from 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm, causing long delays for motorists. Recognising this, the traffic police had proposed reducing the height of the iron arches to block entry for heavy vehicles.
Right-turn delays
At the Shivajinagar and Deolai intersections, four traffic police personnel are stationed for traffic management. Heavy vehicles should be diverted via Shahanoormiya Dargah Chowk, which would allow vehicles turning from Shivajinagar towards Mukundwadi to pass quickly and reduce the load on the underpass, traffic officials noted.
No ban signboards
The traffic police also recommended installing iron signboards at the underpass to enforce the ban on heavy vehicles. Current banners are not clearly visible to drivers. Often, when heavy vehicles get stuck, their tyres have to be deflated to remove them, officials added.