Pune: PMC Commissioner Takes Tough Stance to Push Forward Katraj-Kondhwa Road Project

Katraj, 27th June 2025: Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has vowed to take a firm stand to fast-track the much-delayed Katraj-Kondhwa road widening project. During a review held on Thursday (June 27), he instructed senior municipal officers to expedite the land acquisition process, ensuring the project progresses as decided in a meeting chaired by Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde.

Commissioner Ram, accompanied by local MLC Yogesh Tilekar, Additional Commissioner Omprakash Divte, former corporator Prakash Kadam, Assistant Commissioner Rajesh Kadbane, Road Department Chief Aniruddha Pavaskar, Deputy Engineer Dhananjay Gaikwad, and other senior officials, conducted a site inspection of the roadwork.

Officials from the road department informed the Commissioner that coordination with the District Collector was underway, with the Collector responding positively about completing land acquisition formalities. Commissioner Ram assured that the administration would move swiftly and address traffic management issues raised by Senior Police Inspectors Vinay Patankar (Kondhwa) and Rahulkumar Khilare (Bharati Vidyapeeth). He also ordered that power lines along the route be shifted without delay.

Additionally, he clarified that homes built before 1997 under the former gram panchayat area would be handled through a separate policy framework.

MLC Tilekar noted that the state government has already sanctioned ₹140 crore for the land acquisition, and assured that additional funds would be pursued if necessary. “The state is positive about further support,” he added.

Meanwhile, members of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), led by Vasant More, staged protests at Katraj Chowk, targeting MLC Tilekar and demanding immediate completion of the road project. Protesters displayed placards reading “Stop the stunts, finish the Katraj-Kondhwa road” in a show of public frustration over the long delays.