Pune’s plea for funds to finish crucial road links is stuck, worsening traffic woes in the city
A survey by the Pune Municipal Corporation found 678 missing links, adding up to 459 km. If these links were completed, the city would have a full road network of 1,384 km. That would really help ease congestion.
The road department says some links need more land, which costs more money. They also need an extra ₹815 crore for land acquisition, and most of that land isn’t even acquired yet.
Aniruddha Pawaskar, head of the road department, mentioned that the PMC has sent reminders three times for the ₹637 crore. They asked for ₹100 crore in June 2024, ₹417 crore in August, and another ₹120 crore in October for links near the airport and railway station.
Civic rights activist Ashok Mehendale is pushing for these links to be completed. He says the state government needs to release the funds for land acquisition. Without political and administrative support, citizens are stuck with poor road connectivity and traffic jams.
Land acquisition is a big challenge. Officials are struggling to negotiate with local landowners. Even though they have legal rights, landowners want cash compensation at three times the market rate, which complicates things.
