Due to ongoing road widening and concreting work on National Highway No. 965 DD between Hirdoshi and Varandha, covering the stretch from kilometer 70/900 to 92/003, authorities have decided to close this route to traffic for approximately one and a quarter months. The closure will remain in effect from March 25, 2026, to April 30, 2026, as a safety precaution. The Executive Engineer of the National Highways division in Pune had submitted a request to the Sub-Divisional Officer of Bhor seeking permission for the temporary closure of the Bhor-Mahad road section to facilitate the construction work efficiently.
Following this request, reports were prepared by the Bhor tehsil administration and the Bhor police inspector, after which the proposal was forwarded to the District Collector for final approval. Acting under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the District Collector issued official orders to shut the road for the specified duration, as confirmed by officer Dr. Vikas Kharat. The road widening project is currently underway in this section of Bhor taluka along National Highway 965 DD, where infrastructure improvements are being carried out to enhance connectivity and ensure safer travel conditions for commuters in the long term.
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The Hirdoshi to Varandha Ghat stretch is considered highly vulnerable to landslides and features several sharp and dangerous curves, making construction work particularly challenging. Out of the total 21.10 kilometers of the project, work spanning approximately 3.50 kilometers has already been completed using traffic diversions and Dry Lean Concrete (DLC) methods. However, in the remaining portion, diverting traffic has become difficult due to the presence of the Neeradevghar dam water on one side and steep mountainous terrain on the other, leaving very limited space for safe vehicle movement during construction activities.
Keeping the upcoming monsoon season in mind, authorities have planned to complete the remaining work in the ghat section before the rains begin. In the meantime, several alternative routes have been announced to minimize inconvenience for commuters. Vehicles traveling towards Pune are advised to take the route via Mangaon, Nizampur, Tamhini Ghat, Mulshi, and Pirangut. For those heading towards Kolhapur, alternate routes include Rajewadi Phata–Poladpur–Mahabaleshwar–Wai–Surur–Satara–Karad–Kolhapur, as well as Rajewadi Phata–Poladpur–Khed–Chiplun–Patan–Karad–Kolhapur to ensure smoother traffic flow during the closure period.
According to the police inspector from the Highway Police Center in Sarola, several villages including Dhamandev, Karungan, Hirdoshi, Somjai Mal, Takya Mal, Varvand, Shirgaon, Ashimpi, Umbardewadi, Umbardegaon, and Shilim are connected to this highway. Considering the daily needs of local residents, authorities have decided not to impose a complete shutdown across all sections. Instead, necessary arrangements will be made to provide limited access and alternative internal routes at suitable locations, ensuring that essential travel for villagers continues without major disruption during the construction phase.