Pune: After PMO Complaint Exposes PMC Inaction, Delayed Link Road Finally Opens

Mohammadwadi, 13th July 2025: The much-awaited Lavanya Veg Restaurant to Raheja Reserve link road has finally been opened by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) after years of delay due to land acquisition issues. The road’s opening brings relief to the residents who have been suffering due to the lack of connectivity.

The road project was pending for years due to alleged corruption in the land acquisition department, which was accused of deliberately delaying the process despite crores of rupees being spent on compensation. Citizens of the area had been pointing out the corruption and demanding urgent intervention to complete the project.

In a significant development, citizens had petitioned the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), highlighting the issue and seeking their intervention. The petition, addressed to the PMO by civil rights activist Jaymala Dhankikar on January 1, 2025, urged immediate action to acquire the land and complete the road construction without further delay.

The citizens’ efforts paid off, and the PMC finally took action to remove the encroachments and complete the road project. The opening of the road is a testament to the power of citizen activism and the importance of holding the government accountable.

“ The residents of NIBM Annexe, Mohammadwadi area, are finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as the new road will greatly improve their quality of life. The PMO and CMO’s efforts to complete the project are appreciated, and it is hoped that the corporation will continue to prioritise the needs of the citizens in the future, which it currently is not doing due to large-scale corruption and a lack of accountability. We complained about the deliberate delay and made the PMO and CMO aware. After that, PMC got exposed and had no option but to follow the law,” she said.

In a scathing letter addressed earlier to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) dated October 10, 2024, activist Dhankikar highlighted the appalling state of affairs within the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) road department. She accused the department of gross negligence and enabling land mafia to encroach upon public land meant for DP (Development Plan) roads.

Dhankikar’s communication drew urgent attention to the road connecting Raheja Premiere to Kadnagar Chowk—an officially designated DP road that remains blocked by illegal sheds erected by private landlords. This unlawful occupation, she wrote, has brought severe hardship to the student community and local residents who rely on this route for daily commuting.

“The PMC’s lethargic attitude and inaction have allowed land mafias to flourish openly,” Dhankikar stated. “The sheds obstructing the road are a direct result of PMC’s failure to enforce the law, indicating corruption and dereliction of duty.”

Despite repeated complaints, the road and land measurement and compensation departments within the PMC have failed to take any concrete action. According to Dhankikar, this blatant inaction had emboldened encroachers while endangering the rights and mobility of the general public.

In her letter to the PMO and CMO, she demanded three immediate actions:

·       Immediate Construction of the Road: She called for swift construction of the road linking Raheja Premiere to Kadnagar Chowk and complete removal of all illegal encroachments.

·       FIR Against PMC Officials: She urged that PMC officials responsible for the delay and negligence be booked under an FIR for dereliction of duty and corruption.

·       Strict Action Against Land Mafia: She demanded punitive action against the land mafia and accountability for those involved in the unlawful occupation of DP roads.

Following her complaint and the exposure of the issue at higher administrative levels, PMC has reportedly begun facing mounting pressure to comply with the law and address the grievances on priority.

“We are thrilled that our efforts have finally paid off, and the road is now open,” said Ashok Mehendale, a resident of NIBM Annexe. “We hope that the PMC will learn from this experience and prioritize transparency and accountability in its dealings.”

The PMC road department stated that it is committed to completing all pending infrastructure projects in the city and ensuring that the citizens’ needs are met. The corporation has also assured that it will take strict action against any officials found guilty of corruption or negligence.

The opening of the Lavanya to Raheja link road is a significant milestone for the city, and citizens are hopeful that it will set a precedent for future citizen-centric infrastructural development projects.