Pune: Baner Road Widening Project Cleared; PMC Promises Fair Land Compensation

Baner, 3rd October 2025: Residents of the Baner–Balewadi area, long troubled by chronic traffic congestion, may finally see some relief. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated steps to address the long-standing problem by planning road widening near major choke points.

Over the past decade, Baner has witnessed rapid development with new housing projects, commercial complexes, and amenities. However, narrow internal roads have failed to keep pace with this growth, leading to daily traffic snarls that frustrate both residents and commuters. Despite repeated appeals, citizens had seen little action—until now.

One of the worst-affected stretches is the junction near Hotel Pancard Club and Dhanakude Vasti, which has become a hotspot of gridlock. Responding to public demand, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader and former Standing Committee Chairman Baburao Chandere visited the site on Friday morning along with PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and former MP Vandana Chavan.

After an on-site inspection, PMC officials stated that road widening was the only viable solution. For this, land acquisition is required. Constructive discussions were held with the original landowners, who were assured of fair compensation. The administration also emphasized that principles of transparency, legal compliance, and citizens’ welfare would be strictly followed during the process.

Once completed, the widened road will connect directly to the Mumbai–Bengaluru National Highway, easing traffic flow and providing significant relief to thousands of daily commuters. Many residents of nearby housing societies were present during the visit. Senior PMC officials, including Aniruddha Pawaskar (Chief Engineer, Roads), Sandeep Kadam (Deputy Commissioner, Solid Waste), Santosh Warule (Circle 2), Girish Dapkekar (Assistant Commissioner), Prasanna Joshi (Superintending Engineer, Water Supply), Jayawant Pawar (Executive Engineer, Construction), Abhijit Ambekar (Superintending Engineer, Roads), and other senior officers, also joined the inspection.

Speaking after the visit, Chandere said, “In a rapidly developing area like Baner, strong infrastructure is vital. Only when roads are wide and safe can the benefits of development truly reach citizens. This road-widening initiative, undertaken after persistent citizen demand, will not just solve traffic problems but also give fresh momentum to the overall development of the area. Positive discussions with landowners have been held, and the PMC has assured them fair compensation. This step will prove historic for Baner’s growth.”