Pune traffic block Jan 19 will bring large parts of the city’s core areas to a standstill as major roads in Shivajinagar and Deccan are sealed for an international cycling event.The Pune City Traffic Police have announced sweeping diversions and closures on Monday for the “Pune Grand Challenge Tour,” a cycling competition organised by the Pune District Administration in association with the Cycling Federation of India. Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma said the competition will run from 19 to 24 January 2026, with the most severe Pune traffic block Jan 19 for the “Prologue Race” on Monday.
Officials said the race cycles are expected to travel at 60–70 km per hour, prompting stringent safety measures along the route. The Pune traffic block Jan 19 has also led authorities to declare a Collector’s holiday for schools and colleges in nine wards of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
The core restrictions for the Pune traffic block Jan 19 will be in force from 09:00 to 18:00, during which the race route will be completely closed to all vehicles and pedestrians. The affected corridors include Fergusson College (FC) Road, University Road, Jangli Maharaj (JM) Road and several connecting streets in the Shivajinagar–Deccan belt.
According to the Traffic Department, closures will apply to key stretches, including Khanduji Baba Chowk to Goodluck Chowk (including Garware Bridge towards Goodluck Chowk) and Goodluck Chowk to Chafekar Chowk, covering the main FC Road segment. Additional shutdowns under the Pune traffic block Jan 19 include Chafekar Chowk to Range Hills Corner, Range Hills Corner to Sancheti Chowk via Suryamukhi Datta Mandir Chowk, and Sancheti Hospital Chowk to Deccan Gymkhana Bus Stand via Bala Gandharva Chowk.
To reduce congestion during the Pune traffic block Jan 19, police have advised alternative routes for commuters travelling across the city. Those moving from Swargate or Kothrud towards University or Shivajinagar are being asked to use Alka Chowk, Senapati Bapat (SB) Road or the Riverbed Road via Bhide Bridge instead of passing through Khanduji Baba Chowk.
Vehicles heading from the University or Khadki towards Deccan and the city centre are directed to use the Old Mumbai–Pune Highway, Sangamwadi, or diversions via Range Hills and Khadki. Local traffic that normally uses FC Road and JM Road will be rerouted via SB Road, Prabhat Road and Riverside Road for the duration of the Pune traffic block Jan 19.
A strict no-parking regime will accompany the Pune traffic block Jan 19, with Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Himmat Jadhav declaring both sides of the race route a “No-Parking Zone” for the entire event period. Any vehicles found parked along the designated course are liable to be removed to keep the track clear for high-speed cyclists.
Emergency vehicles, including the Fire Brigade, Police, and Ambulances, as well as vehicles directly linked to the competition, are exempt from the Pune traffic block Jan 19 restrictions. Police have coordinated with hospitals so that ambulances avoid entering the affected areas, and patients will instead be shifted to nearby facilities where access is not blocked.
https://punemirror.com/city/pune/pune-traffic-block-jan-19-shivajinagar-deccan/