Pune Schools Closed on January 19? Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 Forces One-Day Holiday

Pune residents face wide traffic changes and a one-day school holiday as the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 comes to the city between 19 and 23 January 2026. Authorities plan diversions and closures across key roads, while schools and colleges in Pune city stay shut on 19 January to ease student travel problems.

District Collector Jitendra Dudi has ordered a holiday on 19 January 2026 for all schools, colleges and educational institutions within Pune city limits. Police have also appealed that offices may declare leave where possible, or that staff should rely on the Pune Metro, so that usual peak-hour congestion does not clash with race arrangements.

Pune school holiday traffic change advisory for Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026

The international cycling event Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is scheduled in Pune from 19 to 23 January 2026. The opening day includes activities around Fergusson College and Jungli Maharaj Road. Because of this, traffic on these stretches will remain closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., which is a key reason behind the school holiday decision.

The district administration is organising the race with support from the Cycling Federation of India. A crucial part of the plan is the first competitive stage on 20 January 2026. For this stage, an order states that “पुणे ग्रॅड चॅलेंज टूर २०२६ अंतर्गत २० जानेवारी २०२६ रोजी आयोजित टप्पा क्रमांक एकच्यावेळी सकाळी ८ वाजल्यापासून ते सायंकाळी ६ वाजेपर्यंत सर्व प्रकारची वाहतूक पर्यायी मार्गाने वळविण्यासोबत बंद करण्याचे आदेश जिल्हाधिकारी तथा जिल्हादंडाधिकारी जितेंद्र डुडी यांनी जारी केले आहे.”

Pune school holiday traffic change advisory and 20 January race route

The first stage on 20 January 2026 covers 53.8 km, running through areas under Paud, Lonavala Rural, Kamshet and Vadgaon police station limits. Officials want to avoid any untoward incident along this loop. Because of that, they have ordered full or partial closure of some stretches, and diversions where alternative roads exist.

Within Paud police station limits, there is no viable alternate corridor for through traffic. Therefore, vehicles will be completely stopped on State Highway 130 from Ghotawade village Bapujibuwa Temple to Ambadvet arch. Traffic will also halt on Major District Road 110 from Ambadvet arch to Paud Karmoli Chowk, and on Major District Road 26 from Paud Karmoli Chowk to Kashing Javan Chowk.

Pune school holiday traffic change advisory for Paud, Lonavala Rural corridors

In Lonavala Rural police station limits, vehicles from villages like Mouje Chavsar and Javan numbers 2 and 3, which usually approach Mumbai or Pune via Javan number 1, must now avoid that route. Instead, this traffic will divert through Mouje Tungi Phata towards Lonavala, which serves as the marked alternative corridor during race hours.

Another set of diversions in the same jurisdiction affects vehicles coming from Mouje Aavegaon and Shindgaon. These vehicles will not be allowed to reach Karla Phata. Instead, traffic from Ambegaon and Shindgaon side will move via Dudhivare, then Aundhe and Aundholi, before heading onward to Lonavala. This path will handle local movement while the race occupies the main section.

Pune school holiday traffic change advisory across Kamshet and Vadgaon Maval

Kamshet police station limits face heavy restrictions because Kadhengaon junction links Hinjewadi, Pavananagar and Paud. Traffic from Kamshet towards Pavananagar and Paud will stay fully closed until the race ends. Authorities stress that there is no parallel route from Kamshet towards Pavananagar, Paud, Aardav, Shivane, Mahagaon and Shirgaon, so this traffic ban remains unavoidable.

On the day of the event, vehicles using the route from Kamshet kilometre 45/600 overbridge Pavana Chowk towards Pavananagar and Paud will also be stopped. The old Pune–Mumbai Highway (NH 48) at Kamshet kilometre 45/600 overbridge Pavana Chowk will see complete closure for this segment. Normal flow will resume only after the cycling stage finishes.

Within Vadgaon Maval police station limits, traffic coming from Shirgaon and Parandwadi side, which usually heads towards Shivane and Shivli via Bebadohol, will not be allowed on that stretch. Instead, this movement will divert along the old Mumbai–Pune Highway, keeping the race corridor free from regular vehicles and reducing risk for cyclists.

Traffic from Chandkhed towards Done, and vehicles from Chandkhed using the Kamshet–Thugaon route, will face full closure at Mouje Kamshet until the competition segment ends, because no alternative alignment exists there. Similarly, vehicles from Malvandi Dhore, Yelghol and Shivli heading towards Aardav will be stopped near the junction before Bhadwali village at Yelghol Phata.

Officials believe these steps, along with the holiday for educational institutions on 19 January 2026 and appeals to use metro services or adjust office operations, will help manage congestion during Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026. The detailed police orders aim to secure the race route while keeping essential local movement possible through marked diversions.