Schools, colleges and educational institutions on major Pune roads will remain closed on January 19, 2026, due to the Pune Grand Challenge Tour. Several city roads will be shut from 9 am to 6 pm for the Prologue Race, prompting the district administration to declare a holiday
Representational image
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, 2026.
District Collector and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, Jitendra Dudi, has issued official orders in this regard.
The 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 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. These include Fergusson College Road (FC Road), Ganeshkhind Road, and Jangli Maharaj Road (JM Road), along with all connecting internal roads.
Considering the possibility of significant inconvenience to students and parents due to road closures, the administration has taken this precautionary decision.
Accordingly, all anganwadis, government and private primary and secondary schools, junior and senior colleges, and professional educational institutions located within the jurisdiction of Pune Municipal Corporation’s regional offices—Chhatrapati Shivajinagar–Ghole Road, Vishrambaugwada–Kasba, Dhole Patil Road, Bhavani Peth, Aundh–Baner, Kothrud–Bavdhan, Sinhagad Road, and Warje–Karvenagar—will remain closed on January 19.
This 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 schedules.
The district administration has appealed to citizens and parents to plan their travel, keeping the temporary traffic restrictions in mind.
Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 launched in presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis
Chief 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 long-lasting sporting and infrastructure legacy for future generations.
Speaking 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 calendar.
Highlighting Pune district’s 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 (UCI).
International 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 world-class preparations within a short timeframe. He noted that 437 km of roads have been upgraded to meet international cycling standards.
Union 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 event.
A special highlight of the ceremony was the traditional Indian attire worn by international cyclists — kurta, pyjama, and jacket — symbolising India’s culture and the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, which drew widespread appreciation.
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