Pune: PMC Opposes PMRDA’s Proposed Yerawada-Katraj Tunnel, Citing High Costs and Low Utility
Pune, 1st October 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has stated that the proposed tunnel between Yerawada and Katraj, planned by the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) to ease traffic congestion, is not feasible.
“The tunnel between Yerawada and Katraj is not feasible. The utility and cost of the tunnel are also not affordable. Therefore, we are opposed to the tunnel work,” Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram clarified on Tuesday.
The tunnel project was initially proposed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address severe traffic congestion in central Pune. PMRDA had prepared a project plan and submitted a report for review. During a recent meeting of the Pune Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (PUMTA), the report highlighted that constructing six-lane tunnels spanning 18 to 20 kilometers would cost thousands of crores of rupees.
The PMC noted that the total cost of the project and the expected usage of the tunnel made it an impractical solution for traffic management. The proposed concept involved constructing two tunnels—one for northbound and one for southbound traffic—with multiple entry and exit points to ensure wide usage.
With the municipal administration opposing the project, the likelihood of the tunnel getting approval and moving forward now appears slim.
