The barricades at the entrance to Manekji Mehta Road have vanished. The road that remained closed to traffic for months for Pune Sub Area to construct two arches at the entrance to the road is now open. Newsline had reported how commuters were facing difficulties after Army authorities put up the barricades. Defence authorities confirmed that the barricades were removed on Wednesday evening. Newsline had reported Wednesday that work on the arches had begun in July last year and was to be over in October. Though the work had been completed, the road was kept blocked forcing people going towards Hadapsar to take a long detour. A traffic branch officer said, “The Army was not responding to our repeated communication. We hope they do not barricade it again. They have said they are yet to install security cameras at various spots.” Commuters had complained about the Army police stopping traffic from entering the road which is also an access point to other bylanes. A traffic police officer said, “We reiterated that we have no objection to Army police stopping and checking vehicles for security reasons. But stopping vehicles at the entry and some other approach roads is unwarranted. It is a road that belongs to citizens. Army authorities cannot stop traffic without a valid reason.”
