Pimpri-Chinchwad: Under the Guise of ‘Development,’ Citizens Endure a “Living Hell” as Mumbai-Pune Highway Service Road Deteriorates Beyond Repair
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Nigdi, 14th June 2025: Two years from now, if all goes according to plan, residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad hope to enjoy smoother and easier lives with the completion of several major infrastructure projects, including the city’s water pipeline network, the Urban Street Project, and MahaMetro’s extension from Pimpri to Nigdi.
However, those dreams currently lie shattered. With all the projects being executed simultaneously, residents say the commute has turned into a “living hell.” The service road along the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway, especially between Pimpri and Nigdi, has deteriorated badly, a situation many blame on outright administrative negligence.
At present, Metro construction is underway on the Nigdi-Pimpri stretch. Excavation work to erect metro pillars has narrowed the roads considerably, with safety barriers placed around the sites. Simultaneously, water pipeline excavation is ongoing along the BRT route, forcing PMPML buses onto the already congested service road. The resulting traffic snarls are severe, particularly during peak hours.
Due to reduced road width and long signal durations at key junctions like Nigdi, Akurdi and Chinchwad, vehicles queue up for extended periods. Commuters are taking nearly 20 minutes to cover half a kilometer. Recently, near Bajaj Auto, a chamber collapse caused further chaos, repairs took half an hour, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. Many have directly blamed the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for the worsening condition of the roads.
Adding to the pressure, the Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi procession will pass through this very stretch. Departing from Dehu on 18th June and halting at Akurdi on 19th June, the procession will use the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway. Despite the event being just five days away, road excavation continues, and potholes remain unaddressed.
Ajay Devne, a resident of Pradhikaran, said, “It takes a lot of time just to get past Bhakti Shakti. All the construction happening at once, combined with the rains, makes it even worse. Plus, drivers here lack civic sense. The authorities are always unreachable when we try to complain. Adding to the growing woes, footpaths have become wider than roads, and encroachments show no signs of stopping. The roads have become narrow, and the entire stretch feels like a living hell.”
Shail Matade, a resident of Pimpri, added, “Taking a four-wheeler there is a huge task. Vehicles barely move, and many drivers are unruly. The rains only make it worse. This area is very close to the Bajaj Auto premises and connects key regions in north Pune. People traveling to places like Lonavala and Talegaon are forced to take a detour via the Katraj-Dehu Road Bypass. Even that adds to the distance and doesn’t guarantee a traffic-free route.”
Responding to the concerns, Bapusaheb Gaikwad, PCMC’s Joint City Engineer, said, “Potholes on both sides of the road from Nigdi to Pimpri will be filled within two days. Instructions have been given to halt metro work from June 18 to 20 during the Palkhi festival.”
Senior Police Inspector Vishwajeet Khule, in charge of the Nigdi Traffic Division, said, “A meeting was held with Metro and PCMC officials on Friday. It was suggested that potholes on the Nigdi-Pimpri route be filled immediately. Additional helpers are being deployed with the traffic police. Since multiple routes converge at key junctions, signal durations are currently longer to manage the load, but we’re working to reduce them.”
