Pune: Major Demolition Drive Launched for Katraj-Kondhwa Road Expansion, 11,500 sq m of Commercial and 1,410 sq m of Residential Properties Removed
Pune, 5th June 2026: In a major push to address chronic traffic congestion on the Katraj-Kondhwa Road, one of Pune’s busiest arterial corridors connecting Satara Road and Solapur Road, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday carried out a large-scale demolition drive to clear land required for the long-pending road widening project.
The joint action was undertaken by teams from the Road Department, Building Department, Encroachment Removal Department, and Land Acquisition and Management Department under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and in the presence of Additional Municipal Commissioner Omprakash Divte.
The demolition drive was carried out in the Rajas Society area along the stretch between Nikhil Marbles and SBI Chowk, Sundarban, on the Katraj-to-Kondhwa side of the road. Civic teams removed permanent structures, unauthorised sheds, stalls and kiosks falling within the affected properties identified for the road widening project.
Officials said discussions were held with property owners, and those yet to vacate were urged to remove their belongings voluntarily to avoid losses during future demolition drives. The administration noted that nearly 10 days had already been given for compliance and no further extension would be granted.
Considering the increasing traffic importance of the Katraj-Kondhwa Road, which serves as a key link between two national highways and carries heavy vehicular movement, the PMC has initiated land acquisition for the first phase of a proposed 50-metre-wide road. The Development Plan (DP) proposes an 84-metre-wide corridor along the 3.5-km stretch.
In the first phase, awards for acquisition of around 41,000 sq m of land belonging to 109 property owners have already been declared, and possession proceedings are underway. The widened corridor will include the main carriageway, service roads on both sides, U-drains for stormwater management and a grade separator at Mauli Nagar.
PMC officials also said that a flyover being constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) extends up to around 260 metres near Rajas Society Chowk. To facilitate the flyover approach and traffic diversion, service roads of approximately 400 metres are being developed. The service road on the Rajas Society side is expected to be opened to traffic shortly after the completion of the ongoing clearance work.
For Friday’s operation, the civic body deployed six JCBs, 14 dumpers, two cranes, 25 labourers and personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force. The action covered around 11,500 sq m of commercial properties and 1,410 sq m of residential properties.
As part of the drive, nine two-storey RCC buildings, 14 sheet-roof structures, 12 stalls and several boundary walls were demolished. Civic officials said similar enforcement action would continue in the coming days to expedite the road widening project.
