Pune: Logjam on BRTS lane as heavy vehicle gets stranded at Nashik Phata

Some commuters stranded on PMPML buses got down and started walking towards Nashik Phata to head to Bhosari.

The heavy vehicle coming from Pimpri took a detour and entered the BRTS lane on the highway stretch outside the State Transport bus stop at Vallabhnagar, and a slew of vehicles followed it. (Express)

Scores of vehicles including two-wheelers remained stuck in the BRTS lane on the Pune-Mumbai highway near Pimpri-Chinchwad Saturday. The logjam started after a heavy vehicle illegally entered the BRTS lane and got stuck at the Nashik Phata bus stop. Notably, only PMPML buses are allowed to access the BRTS lane.

The heavy vehicle coming from Pimpri took a detour and entered the BRTS lane on the highway stretch outside the State Transport bus stop at Vallabhnagar, and a slew of vehicles followed it.

For more than a kilometre, the vehicles travelled smoothly. But at Nashik Phata, the heavy vehicle hit the top portion of the BRTS bus stop. “I cannot go ahead as my vehicle will get damaged as well as the bus stop,” the driver of the vehicle told this paper.

The traffic police from the nearby Kasarwadi signal rushed to the spot. But by that time, there was a long queue of vehicles that had entered the BRTS lane outside the Vallabhnagar bus stop.

“I am heading for Pune city… I just followed other vehicles as they entered the BRTS lane. I had no clue that this was a BRTS lane… Why don’t they put a security guard or a warden or a policeman to look after this stretch so that vehicles coming from outside are not misled?” asked Hemant Kumar, a resident of Navi Mumbai.

If the Navi Mumbai resident had no clue that it was a BRTS lane, locals like Harun Shaikh entered the BRTS lane thinking that they would reach the Nashik Phata signal without getting caught in traffic jams.

“I never thought I would get caught here for nearly two hours,” said Shaikh, who locked his car and plonked himself on the bushes near the BRTS lane.

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Some commuters stranded on PMPML buses got down and started walking towards Nashik Phata to head to Bhosari.

A traffic police woman said, “’We fine vehicles entering the BRTS lane. But we also have to look after the traffic at the Nashik Phata signal. We cannot devote extra time to this BRTS lane.”

The traffic cop said it would take more than an hour to clear the BRTS logjam. “We are asking the vehicles to go into reverse gear and move out from the exit point.”

Police Inspector Satish Mane said, “’We fine those who enter the BRTS lane but we are short on manpower. Our police personnel manage the Kasarwadi signal as well as the BRTS lane.”

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He added, “Earlier, there were traffic wardens who used to manage the BRTS lane. The PMPML has withdrawn them to cut costs.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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