Poor road conditions on Manchar-Bhimashankar route raise safety concerns for devotees

Time of India

2 days ago

Pune: Devotees and local villagers have expressed concerns about the deteriorating condition of a 60km stretch of road between Manchar and Bhimashankar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas that attracts thousands of visitors from across the country each year.
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The Bhimashankar temple is witnessing a significant increase in visitors with the start of the Shravan month. Heavy rainfall, extremely foggy conditions, and numerous potholes have made travel along this route very hazardous.
Villagers criticised the tehsil administration for not repairing the pothole-riddled sections of the road before the start of the holy month.
"Although the district administration held several meetings in the past two months, they neglected the condition of the main road.
It poses a substantial risk to visitors," said Ashok Mengale, an activist from the area.
"The combination of poor visibility, treacherous road conditions, and heavy rainfall worsened the situation for those travelling to the temple," he added.
Sanjay Nagtilak, the tehsildar of Ambegaon, said the administration has requested NHAI to repair the stretch.
"The last 10km of the road from Taleghar to Bhimashankar have several potholes.
We already requested NHAI to repair the stretch; however, they were unable to carry out the work due to heavy rainfall and traffic on the road," Nagtilak told TOI.
The large potholes along the route are forcing drivers to divert to muddy patches, which become dangerously slippery after rainfall. This frequently results in vehicles getting stuck, leading to massive traffic congestion.
"The authorities should have repaired the road before the monsoon.
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We see queues of vehicles stretching for kilometres, especially on weekends," Vijay Module, who runs a restaurant in Taleghar, told TOI.
The road has several blind as well as sharp turns. The lack of visibility and consistent heavy rainfall make these spots extremely dangerous for drivers, especially given the two large ghat sections along the route.
Villagers said the Pasara ghat has a valley on one side and traverses through hilly terrain.
In addition, there are no blinkers to help drivers see the road markings.
"At night, we often see vehicles getting stuck in the ghat section because drivers are unfamiliar with the route and struggle to navigate it. It is particularly challenging for those driving for the first time. Installing multiple signboards and blinkers is essential to ensure a safe journey to the temple," said former Manchar sarpanch Dattatray Ganjal.
The final stretch of the road passes through a dense forest, where visibility is a critical issue. Villagers claimed that vehicle breakdowns have increased this year due to the poor condition of the roads.
"Private crane operators have started working in these areas and charge high prices to tow vehicles. If the issue is severe, the vehicle needs to be transported to Ghodegaon or Manchar. The district administration should also engage a private agency to provide crane services to assist travellers," Module said.
Devotees travelling from across the country face difficulties parking their vehicles about 4km away from the temple.
"We have to wait for a shuttle bus or walk 4km, and many devotees choose to walk due to traffic congestion in the last 500m. The authorities need to manage vehicular movement better and ensure that the shuttle bus service runs smoothly. If the shuttle is going to get stuck in traffic for half an hour, why would anyone want to take it?" asked Sandip Pokale, a devotee and regular visitor to the temple.
In addition, the lack of dedicated stops for meals along the route forces devotees to halt at will, causing congestion.
"This also causes cleanliness issues as people discard their garbage in open areas, leaving behind a trail of plastic waste along the route. It is damaging the environment in the villages located along the way," said Mengale.