Pune: PMC Begins Work to Reduce Dangerous Slope on Gangadham Road
Pune, 25th April 2026: In a major step to improve road safety, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has begun work to reduce the steep gradient on the stretch between Aai Mata Mandir and Gangadham Chowk, a route long considered accident-prone.
The nearly 200-metre stretch, known for its sharp slope, has witnessed multiple fatal accidents over the years, particularly involving heavy vehicles such as dumpers, trucks and tankers colliding with two-wheelers near the Gangadham Chowk signal. The civic body had approved the project last year to address these recurring incidents.
According to officials, the project has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 9.16 crore. As part of the work, the road gradient will be reduced by around 2.5 metres. In addition, underground infrastructure including water supply lines, sewage pipelines and stormwater drains will be upgraded and repositioned.
The Aai Mata Mandir–Gangadham Chowk road is a key connector linking areas such as Katraj, Kondhwa and Yewalewadi to major city hubs including Market Yard, Pune railway station and Swargate. Due to heavy traffic movement on this stretch, the steep slope has posed a serious risk to commuters.
Work on the project began last week and is currently underway near Aai Mata Mandir. However, officials said traffic congestion and resistance from some local traders have been slowing down progress. Authorities expressed hope that the work will be completed soon once these issues are resolved.
PMC Road Department head Rajesh Bankar said that plans are also in place to appoint a consultant for implementing long-term safety measures on this stretch.
At present, the road has a gradient of approximately 12.3 metres from the elevated section to the level ground. To ease this, around 500 metres of the road will be excavated, and existing civic utility lines beneath the road will be shifted deeper. As several internal roads merge into this stretch, their gradients will also be adjusted as part of the project to ensure smoother and safer traffic movement.
