Ellora Highway Closed To Heavy Vehicles For 6 Months

The Ellora Highway, which connects Khultabad Junction to the Shri Grishneshwar Temple, will be closed to heavy vehicle traffic for a six-month period starting March 29, 2027. This decision, part of the development plan for Ellora (Taluka Khultabad), is due to the construction of an underpass in front of the temple. As a result, heavy and oversized vehicles traveling from Kannad towards Ellora-Khultabad-Daulatabad-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will now take a different route.

They will proceed via Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Sharanapur Phata-Maliwada-Varasadi-Kasabkheda Phata, bypassing the closed section. Light vehicles of devotees visiting the temple and Khultabad will be permitted to travel up to Mahavir Chowk in Verul, after which they can continue to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar via the Khultabad-Daulatabad route.

Furthermore, heavy vehicles heading towards Phulambri-Khultabad-Verul-Kannad will now take the alternative route: Phulambri-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Sharanapur Phata-Maliwada-Varasadi-Kasabkheda Phata-Ellora. The PCMC has extended a contract with the operator of Appu Ghar, a popular amusement park, for an additional 15 years at an annual rent of ₹8 lakh for a 7-acre civic property.

Authorities urge motorists to use these alternative routes, follow traffic rules, and cooperate with the police to maintain safe and efficient traffic flow during this period.