Overview

• Ongoing Maratha community protests seeking reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category have resulted in considerations for businesses and forced decisions.
• Maratha Reservation activist and leader of Maratha Kranti Morcha Manoj Jarange Patil embarked on a major rally from 20 January that is scheduled to culminate at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on 26 January.
• On 23-24 January, the rally will pass through key locations of Pune District, including the Kharadi Bypass and Koregaon Bhima road.
• Given that these routes are popular and connect with business hubs in Pune and Mumbai, the Pune Traffic Police have implemented diversions to avert any major traffic disruption.
• Manoj Jarange-led demonstrations have in the past made situations volatile and disruptive as was witnessed on 30 October 2023.
• Therefore, it is important for business organisations to remain vigilant of ongoing events, prepare for contingencies and have mitigation measures in place.

Rally Plan

• 23 January – Rally commences from Ranjangaon at 0800 hours, lunch at Koregaon Bhima, halt at Chandnagar-Kharadi Bypass.
• 24 January – Departure from Chandannagar, Kharadi Bypass at 0800 hours, lunch at Talegaon Dabhade, halt at Lonavala.
• 25 January – Departure Lonavala at 0800 hours, through Panvel, lunch at Navi Mumbai, halt at Vashi.
• 26 January – Rally leaves Vashi at 0800 hours, commence sit-in for fast unto death at Azad Medan or Shivaji Park Mumbai.

Traffic Diversions in Pune District

For 23 January

• Mumbai Pune Expressway and Kolhapur, Satara to Ahmednagar: Vehicles will be diverted via Katraj – Khadi Machine Chowk Mantarwadi Phata Hadapsar Marg via Solapur Road to Kedgaon Chauphula Navre Shirur Marg.
• All types of vehicles going to Theur Phata (Solapur Road) to Ahmednagar via Wagholi, Lonikand will be diverted to Shirur to Ahmednagar via Kedgaon Chauphula Nhavare.
• All types of vehicles going to Ahmednagar from Pune city will take Kharadi Bypass to the right and turn left at Magarpatta Chowk and take Malan on Solapur Road and proceed via Mefedgaon Chauphula Nhavre Shirur.

For 24 January

• All vehicles coming from Ahmednagar towards Pune city from Theur Phata (Lonikand) to Kesand Liyur Marg will be diverted via Solapur Road.
• Vehicles coming from Yahne in Wagholi area will be diverted via Wagholi Avalwadi Caterer Khurd Caterer Budruk – Keshavnagar Mundhya Chowk.
• All types of vehicles going to Ahmednagar from Pune city will be diverted from Chandama Chowk to Alandi Road Junction, Vishrantwadi Dhanori Lohgaon and Gholi Marg to Ahmednagar.
• From 0600 hours on 24 January, the following traffic arrangements will be implemented as the march will move towards Mumbai side via Rajiv Gandhi Bridge – Jagtap Dairy – Dange Chowk -Birla Hospital Chafekar Chowk – Ahimsa Chowk Mahavir Chowk Khandobamal Chowk – Tilak Chowk – Bhakti Shakti – Pune Gate – Dehur Road – Talegaon.
• Entry of all types of vehicles from Aundh D Mart to Sangvi Phatiya is banned and vehicles on the Sadar route will take a left from Pole Chowk to their destination via Nagraj Road.
• All types of vehicles coming from Pimple Nilekh do not come to Rakshak Chowk and go to Jagtap on Vishalnagar DP Road. Chowk – Kaspte Chowk Marg will go to the desired destination.
• Traffic coming from Shiwar Chowk will not enter Aundh Rawet Road on the right and left sides and will go straight through the grade separator to the desired destination from Kaspet Chowk.
• Entry of all types of vehicles coming from Tapkir Chowk, MM Chowk to Kalewadi Fata Bridge is prohibited and the vehicles on this route will go from Rahatni Fata Chowk to Rahatni Gaon Godambe Chowk.
• All types of vehicles coming from Sangvi village to Sangvi Phat will go to their destination via Satole Pump Old Sangvi and Vasantdada Putla Chowk Old Sangvi Dapodi.
• Vehicles coming from Tathwade Gaon Chowk to Dange Chowk are Tathwade Take a right turn from the Chowk to Tathwade. Return to the desired destination via Hogging Bridge.
• Underpass or from Kalakhadak to Dange Chowk and take a U-turn from Kalakhadak to the destination via Bhumkar Chowk.
• Vehicles coming towards Dange Chowk via Jaty Wakad Dutt Mandir Road shall turn right or left from Annabhau Sathe Chowk.
• Vehicles coming from Chhatrapati Chowk Kaspte Vasti towards Kalewadi junction will take a left turn from Chhatrapati Chowk to reach their destination.
• Vehicles coming from Barne Corner Thergaon towards Thergaon Junction will take a right turn to the desired destination or take a U-turn to Tapkir Chowk.
• All types of vehicles coming from Thergaon towards Birla Hospital Chowk will be closed and the said vehicles will go to their destination from Raghavendra Maharaj Math or go to their destination via Barne Corner Thergaon.
• All types of vehicles coming from Kaverinagar Police Colony are prohibited from going to Kaverinagar Underpass and the said vehicles are from the corner opposite Wakad Bhajimandai to the left of Wakad Police Station. By road, go to the desired destination via Dutt Mandir Road.
• The road leading to Dalvinagar Chowk from Khandobamal and Chinchwad station will be closed for all vehicles and the vehicles on the said route will go to their destination via Bijlinagar Chowk route.
• The entry of all types of vehicles coming from River View Chowk to Dange Chowk and from Dange Chowk to Mahaveer Chowk is blocked and the vehicles on the said route are going to the desired destination via Chinchwade Farm Road. will go Also the vehicles going to Bhosari will go to their destination via Bijlinagar Walhekarwadi.
• Vehicles going towards Chinchwade Nagar T Junction from River View will go straight to their destination via Rawet.
• A road leading from Lokmanya Hospital Chowk, Chinchwad to Mahavir Chowk Chinchwad for all vehicles. It is being closed and the vehicles on the said route will take a left turn from Lokmanya Hospital Chowk and go to the desired destination via Dalvinagar.
• Entry of all vehicles to Khandoba Mal Chowk via SKF Chowk Chinchwad is closed. coming and the vehicles on the said route will go to the desired destination via the Bijlinagar Chowk route.
• Vehicles coming from Link Road Pimpri instead of coming to Chafekar Chowk will be routed through Moraya Hospital Chowk Keshavnagar.
• The entry of the vehicles coming to Mahavir Chowk and Shivaji Chowk is blocked and the vehicles on the road can go to their destination via Mohnagar Chowk.
• All types of vehicles coming from Bijlinagar Chowk to Triveni Hospital Chowk to River View Chowk The entry is being closed and the traffic on the said route will be diverted to the desired destination Rawet.
• Traffic coming to Chinchwad from Mukai Chowk take a left at Triveni Hospital Valhekarwadi and proceed via Parshwanath Chowk, Bhel Chowk and then take a left at Kachghar Chowk and take a U-turn from Bhakti Shakti Chowk to the subway via Ankush Chowk, Triveninagar.
• The traffic coming from Niramay Hospital towards Mahaveer Chowk is not going straight and to the right but turning to the left side. It will go to the desired destination via Morwadi Chowk.
• Entry of all types of vehicles from Parshuram Chowk to Khandobamal Chowk is blocked. The traffic will go to the destination via RD Agha Thermax Chowk.
• All types of vehicles coming from KSB Chowk to Mahaveer Chowk and Chhatrapati Shivaji Chowk are closed and the vehicles on the Sadar route take a left turn from Basaveshwar Chowk to the desired destination via Auto Clutter.
• The traffic coming from Thermax Chowk is R.D. From Aga Marg, take Garware Cup to the compound and from T junction there, instead of going to Khandobamal Chowk, take left from Parashuram Chowk via Mohannagar Chichanwad.
• Traffic coming from Dalvinagar Pulakadun and Akurdi Gavthana will be diverted through Ganesh Vision instead of Khandobamal Chowk.
• Traffic coming from Durga Chowk is diverted to Tharmax Chowk or via Yamunanagar instead of Tilak Chowk.
• The traffic coming from Bhel Chikka will not come to Tilak Chowk and will go to the desired destination via Sawli Hotel.
• Traffic coming from Appughar/Ravet and traffic coming from Transport Nagar Mathu will go to their destination via Ankush Chowk, Triveninagar via subway (underpass) under Bhakti Shakti Circle instead of crossing Bhakti Shakti Bridge.
• Traffic from Triveninagar Ankushchowk to Bhakti Shavtik to Dehuroad under Bhakti Shakti Circle. The route (through the underpass) will go directly to Dehuroad Mumbai via Anudhar Rawet.
• Traffic coming from Dehur Road will be diverted from Bhakti Shakti Circle to Triveninagar Chowk or from Bhakti Shakti Flyover in front of Punegate Hotel straight through the grade separator to the desired destination.
• Traffic going from Bhakti Shakti to Mumbai will be diverted to the desired destination via the hanging bridge.
• Vehicles going to Bhakti Shakti Chowk from Pune, Khadaki, Dapodi, Phugewadi side will not go to Bhakti Shakti Chowk from Nashik junction and will go to their destination via Moshi Chowk or Kaspet Chowk.
• Vehicles going from Chakan, Moshi, Alandi side via Nashik Phata to Mumbai side will proceed from Panjarpol Junction via Spine Road to Triveninagar, Bhakti Shakti Underpass via Ravet or Nashik Phata Kaspete Chowk to the desired destination via Wakad Naka.
• The traffic coming from Talwade to Dehukman and Mumbai will be completely stopped and will go to the desired destination via Dehugaon.
• Traffic coming from Mumbai Pune Express Highway will be completely closed at Somatne exit and Dehuroad exit and will go to the desired destination via Bangalore highway.
• All traffic going to Mumbai on the Bangalore Highway will be completely banned from the old highway only from the bridge and heavy and small vehicles will go to their destination on the express highway. Also, two-wheelers will only go to the desired destination from Panchar via Krishna Chowk Lodha Scheme-Gahunje Village.
• All types of traffic coming from Mumbai to Pune will take the Bangalore Highway from Central Chowk to their destination.
• As the procession will take the old highway, the traffic will be diverted from Vadgaon Chowk after reaching Bhakti Shakti Chowk.
• Heavy and heavy traffic going towards Mumbai on Talegaon Road 548-D will be closed and the vehicles on the said route will go to their destination via HP Chowk of Mahalunge Transport Department.
• All types of traffic coming from Talegaon Village towards Limb Phatya are going straight and not to the right, they are on the left side will go to the desired destination.
• All types of traffic coming to ABC Petrol Pump Chowk via Belador are going straight and not right and are on the left side will go to the desired destination.

Anticipated Risks in the event of Escalations

• Vandalism of public and/or private property leading to complete disorder, clashes with Police and mass detentions.
• Road blockade and Police cordons bringing traffic to a standstill, thus affecting employee commute, supply chains and causing delays.
• Authorities may impose preventive measures like Section 144, curfew, temporary Internet suspension and step-up security at sensitive areas.
• Suspension of State Government-run transportation services, thus impacting intra-State and inter-State travel.

Recommendations for Organisations

• Advised to not schedule important physical meetings in Pune and Mumbai between 23-26 January.
• In view of the recent reports of communal disturbances in Mira Bhayandar, Mumbai on the Consecration Ceremony at the Ram Temple, Ayodhya on 22 January; heightened security remains likely at popular protest sites in Mumbai like the Azad Maidan, Shivaji Park, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and routes connecting Mumbai with other key cities like Pune and Nashik. Therefore, advised to consider additional travel time in case travelling to or through Mumbai.
• The risk of Internet and telecommunications outages/suspension cannot be ruled out, therefore advised to not schedule any online meeting or important calls between 23-26 January.
• Advised to arrange for adequate power backups.
• Prepare an emergency evacuation plan for contingencies and familiarise the same with all employees.
• It is also advised to provide transportation facilities to all (especially, women employees) until few days succeeding the event.
• Ensure all doors and windows are secured at the end of each business day in order to minimise the impact of any sudden outbreak of violence or act of vandalism.
• Organisations should encourage employees to take the time to verify the authenticity of calls, emails, and texts before communicating sensitive information..

Dos and Don’ts

Helpline Numbers

• Pune Traffic Police Helpline Number – 020-26685000, 8087240400 (WhatsApp)
• Pune Traffic Police x (formerly Twitter) – @PuneCityTraffic
• Pune City Police Emergency Number – 112
• Pune City Police X (formerly Twitter) – @PuneCityPolice
• Mumbai Traffic Police X (formerly Twitter) – @MTPHereToHelp
• Pune District Hospital Directorate – https://pune.gov.in/public-utility-category/hospitals/
• Pune Muncipal Corporation: 1800-1030-222
• Ambulance- 108
• Fire Brigade- 104
• Pune Airport Helpline Number- 91-20-26683232 (0930-1800 hours on weekdays); 9552509847 (24×7)

Contact Us