Pune to Begin HCMTR Construction After Monsoon, Prioritises Mega Project to Ease Traffic Congestion
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 13th July 2026: In a major push to address the city’s worsening traffic congestion, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to accord top priority to the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) project. The civic body plans to begin construction immediately after the monsoon by preparing a revised project plan and expediting the tendering process, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said on Monday.
Speaking after a review meeting at the PMC headquarters, Ram outlined the status of three key infrastructure projects—the HCMTR, the Ring Road, and the proposed underground tunnel network. Among these, the HCMTR has been identified as the project that can be completed the fastest and has therefore been prioritised.
The ambitious HCMTR project, estimated to cost around ₹9,000 crore, involves the construction of a 36-km fully elevated corridor with a width of 24 metres. Commissioner Ram clarified that commuters will not be required to pay toll for using the elevated route.
According to the Commissioner, nearly 60% of the land required for the project is already owned by the Maharashtra government, while another 25% consists of existing roads. As a result, only about 15% of the land will need to be acquired, significantly reducing the challenges associated with land acquisition.
He added that the proposed HCMTR alignment intersects with the Metro corridor at certain locations, and discussions are underway with Metro authorities to resolve alignment issues and ensure smooth integration between the two transport systems.
The PMC is also reviewing alternative implementation models for the project instead of the conventional Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. The civic administration is evaluating the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. Financial and technical consultants will be appointed, and a globally reputed consultancy firm will be selected to prepare and guide the project. A dedicated project cell will also be established within the PMC to oversee implementation.
Meanwhile, the civic body has also decided to accelerate the proposed 83-km Ring Road project, estimated at around ₹27,000 crore. A meeting chaired by the District Collector is scheduled for next week to discuss land acquisition, compensation rates, and feedback from residents of the 44 villages affected by the project.
The PMC is also exploring funding options for the Ring Road through financial institutions, including HUDCO.
Commissioner Ram said the HCMTR, Ring Road, and the proposed tunnel network are being planned as an integrated transport system to create a seamless, high-speed road network for Pune. The interconnected infrastructure projects are expected to improve traffic flow, reduce travel time, and support the city’s long-term mobility needs.
