Nagpur: What should have been a joyful Diwali homecoming turned into a long and exhausting ordeal for hundreds of Nagpurians travelling from Pune this festive weekend. Heavy traffic congestion and road blockages near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar via Shikrapur and Ahilyanagar left commuters stranded for hours, dampening the festive spirit for many returning home to celebrate the festival of lights.
Every year, thousands of city residents working in metro cities make their way back to Nagpur to celebrate Diwali with family. While some manage to secure train tickets well in advance, many opt for road travel as tickets sell out within hours of bookings opening. However, this year, the journey by road proved particularly challenging.
Nikhil and Darshi Chandnani, a couple from Nagpur employed in Pune, shared their experience of being trapped in the jam. “We left Pune around 4 am and usually reach Nagpur by late afternoon. But near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, we ran into a massive traffic jam caused by ongoing road construction. One lane was closed, and all vehicles were diverted onto a single lane. There were no traffic police or prior warnings, which made the situation worse. We ended up stuck for nearly three hours,” they said. “The thought of meeting our families and celebrating Diwali kept us going.”
For others, steep fares and unavailable train tickets added to the frustration. IT professional Tisha Tiwari said she had to pay almost ₹6,000 for a one-way bus ticket after flight fares surged. “Even though I left Pune on Friday night, I reached Nagpur only by Saturday evening. A truck broke down near Ahilyanagar amid the festive rush, causing a jam that lasted over six hours,” she said.
Confirming the widespread delays, Shubham Chaurasia, Director of Sanjay Travels, said the unexpected volume of vehicles overwhelmed the highways. “Thousands of travellers began their journeys from Pune to Nagpur on Friday night, unaware of ongoing roadwork and diversions. The bottlenecks near Ahilyanagar and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar caused massive jams. We kept in touch with passengers and ensured their safety despite the delays,” he said.
With Diwali traffic expected to intensify further, commuters have urged authorities to deploy additional personnel and issue real-time updates to help manage the rush and ensure smoother travel on major routes across Maharashtra.
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