Pune: Schools and colleges on major Pune roads to remain closed on January 19

In view of the international cycling event Pune Grand Challenge Tour 2026 scheduled to be held in Pune from January 19 to 23 2026 a holiday has been declared for schools colleges and educational institutions located in major parts of the city on Monday January 19 2026District Collector and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority Jitendra Dudi has issued official orders in this regardThe Prologue Race of the tournament will take place in Pune city on Monday January 19 Due to this several major city roads will remain completely closed to traffic from 900 am to 600 pm These include Fergusson College Road FC Road Ganeshkhind Road and Jangli Maharaj Road JM Road along with all connecting internal roadsConsidering the possibility of significant inconvenience to students and parents due to road closures the administration has taken this precautionary decisionAccordingly all anganwadis government and private primary and secondary schools junior and senior colleges and professional educational institutions located within the jurisdiction of Pune Municipal Corporationrsquos regional officesmdashChhatrapati ShivajinagarndashGhole Road VishrambaugwadandashKasba Dhole Patil Road Bhavani Peth AundhndashBaner KothrudndashBavdhan Sinhagad Road and WarjendashKarvenagarmdashwill remain closed on January 19This holiday order will be applicable only for Monday January 19 2026 All educational institutions will resume normal operations from Tuesday January 20 2026 as per regular schedulesThe district administration has appealed to citizens and parents to plan their travel keeping the temporary traffic restrictions in mindBajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 launched in presence of CM Devendra FadnavisChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday inaugurated the international Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 stating that the event is not just a cycling competition but a longlasting sporting and infrastructure legacy for future generationsSpeaking at the launch ceremony held at a city hotel in Pune the Chief Minister said the tournament would place Pune and Maharashtra prominently on the global sports and tourism map He expressed confidence that the event would soon become a prestigious annual fixture on the international cycling calendarHighlighting Pune districtrsquos unique blend of history culture technology and natural beauty CM Fadnavis said the Western Ghats landscape and historic forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would add special appeal to the race He assured full support from the Maharashtra government to make the event a landmark in the history of the Union Cycliste Internationale UCIInternational cyclists from over 35 countries are participating in the tournament CM Fadnavis welcomed the riders team managers and officials and congratulated the Pune district administration and government agencies for completing worldclass preparations within a short timeframe He noted that 437 km of roads have been upgraded to meet international cycling standardsUnion Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil Minister of State Madhuri Misal Cycling Federation of India Secretary General Dato Maninder Pal Singh and several MPs MLAs senior officials and police commissioners were present at the eventA special highlight of the ceremony was the traditional Indian attire worn by international cyclists mdash kurta pyjama and jacket mdash symbolising Indiarsquos culture and the spirit of ldquoVasudhaiva Kutumbakamrdquo which drew widespread appreciation