Pune: Proposal Submitted to Save 150-Year-Old Banyan Trees During Hadapsar-Saswad Road Widening
Hadapsar, 22nd May 2026: A proposal has been submitted to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) City Improvement Committee to save nearly 75 banyan trees, estimated to be over 150 years old, during the widening of the Hadapsar-Saswad Road.
The proposal, moved by corporator Vaishali Bankar, suggests altering the proposed road alignment instead of cutting down the trees for the road expansion project.
The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Highway between Hadapsar and Saswad is set to be widened from the existing 30 metres to 45 metres. The widening work will be carried out from Canal Bridge to Satyapuram near the Fursungi-Uruli Devachi municipal council limits.
According to the proposal, around 75 banyan trees stand along a nearly 1.75-km stretch on the left side of the road towards Saswad. The trees are believed to be more than 150 years old.
Bankar stated that if the road is widened as per the current plan, these trees would have to be cut down. In addition, several residential houses on the same side could also be affected, potentially leading to the displacement of residents and compensation costs for the civic body.
To avoid this, the proposal recommends shifting the road alignment towards the right side, into the nearby gliding centre land. The corporator said the land could be made available with support from the Central government, allowing both the trees and residential properties to remain untouched.
The proposal is expected to be discussed after the model code of conduct period ends.
Pune has witnessed repeated debates over tree cutting for infrastructure projects, including road widening and Metro works. Environmental groups and citizens have frequently opposed the felling of trees in the city.
Speaking about the proposal, Vaishali Bankar said, “The proposal has been submitted to protect 75 banyan trees that are more than 150 years old while widening the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Highway. Development and environmental conservation can go hand in hand with support from the Central government.”
