Pune: PMC Sanctions Rs 270 Crore for Katraj-Kondhwa Road Widening After 8-Year Delay

Pune, 12th September 2025: The long-pending widening of the Katraj-Kondhwa road has gained momentum after the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) sanctioned ₹270 crore for land acquisition. The decision was approved in the Standing Committee meeting held on Thursday.

The 84-metre road is proposed to be widened by 50 metres to ease traffic congestion between Hadapsar and Katraj, but the project has been stalled for the last eight years due to delays in land acquisition. Despite the ground-breaking ceremony being held in 2017, less than 50 percent of the work has been completed so far. Officials admit that the lack of possession of required land has not only slowed the project but also led to accidents and fatalities on this stretch.

PMC had earlier offered Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and Floor Space Index (FSI) as compensation to landowners. However, the proposal was rejected by residents, compelling the civic body to now acquire land by paying cash. The delay has also escalated land prices, further increasing project costs.

Last year, the state government sanctioned ₹139 crore for land acquisition, enabling partial possession of land parcels. Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has since taken steps to accelerate the process, forming a committee in coordination with the District Collector’s office to fast-track acquisitions.

To meet the current funding requirement of ₹270 crore, ₹220 crore has been made available through departmental classifications. This includes ₹160 crore from the Road Department and ₹20 crore each from the Project Department, City Engineering Department, and Building Design Department. An additional ₹55 crore is already available with the Land Acquisition Department.

Speaking about the development, Road Department Head Aniruddha Pawaskar said the Standing Committee’s approval will help push forward the long-delayed project.