Pune: Slow Progress of Lohgaon-Wagholi Road Widening Aggravates Traffic Woes; Accidents on the Rise Due to Unfinished Excavation
Lohgaon, 13th June 2025: The road widening project on the busy Lohgaon-Wagholi stretch has come under public scrutiny due to its sluggish progress and mounting safety hazards. With thousands of vehicles plying the route daily, incomplete excavation, poor lighting, and lack of barricading have led to an alarming rise in traffic accidents and severe congestion.
Originally planned as a 24-meter-wide road, this key connector serves areas within both the old city limits and newly merged villages. Over the years, unauthorized encroachments narrowed the stretch, creating bottlenecks and daily traffic chaos. In response, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) launched a widening project, which included the removal of encroachments, relocation of MSEDCL electricity poles, and tree cutting with compensatory plantation.
While preliminary tasks were completed months ago, actual widening work has stalled, leaving long trenches and open excavations unattended.
Safety Risks and Rising Accidents:
The unfinished state of the road poses serious risks to commuters, especially two-wheeler riders. The absence of fencing, reflectors, or signage makes the route particularly dangerous at night or during heavy rainfall.
Recent incident: A tempo overturned in an open trench, narrowly avoiding a major tragedy.
Frequent mishaps: Minor skids and falls involving bikes are reported regularly.
With the onset of the monsoon, waterlogging and erosion have made matters worse. Commuters report traffic pile-ups stretching for kilometers during peak hours, significantly increasing travel time and frustration.
One of the local residents, Narayan Khandwe, said, “Road work has made it extremely difficult to walk or cross the road during the evening hours. Traffic jams are a daily ordeal, and it’s wasting a lot of our time.”
According to Sunil Popale, Junior Engineer, PMC Road Department, “The road widening required several departmental clearances, all of which have now been obtained. Work is in progress, and we aim to complete the project at the earliest.”
Residents Demand Urgent Action:
Local citizens are now pressing the PMC to prioritize and expedite the roadwork, citing daily hardships and growing risks. They are also demanding immediate safety interventions, such as barricades, warning boards, and proper lighting, to prevent further accidents.
