Pune’s Road Network Upgrade: PMC Sets Course To Eliminate Missing Links
Pune, 16th July 2023: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has conducted a comprehensive study to address the issue of incomplete roads and enhance the city’s road network.
Vikram Kumar, Commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation, expressed the municipality’s commitment to address the missing link issue and strengthen the city’s road network. The initial phase focusing on the 38 roads is set to be completed in the coming months, with the necessary provisions allocated in the budget for this purpose.
The study revealed the presence of 401.22 kilometers of undeveloped roads, also known as missing links, within the city. Out of these, 38 crucial short-distance roads have been identified for immediate attention. Over the next six months, the PMC plans to connect these roads across 11 suburbs, bridging a total of 6.5 kilometers and alleviating traffic congestion in the process.
In the past, 58 villages located along the city’s boundaries were integrated into the Pune Municipal Corporation in three phases: 1997, 2017, and 2021. This expansion increased the city’s area to 518 square kilometers. However, these newly added areas face significant road-related challenges, with inadequate alternative routes due to the shortage of short roads. To address this issue, the PMC initiated the search for undeveloped roads last year, leading to the discovery of the 401.22 kilometers of missing links.
It is important to note that 128 kilometers of roads fall within the “PMRDA” ring road and are therefore excluded from the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation. The remaining 273.22 kilometers, comprising 390 roads, have been identified for development. However, it is not feasible to develop all of these roads simultaneously due to the substantial funding required.
The study conducted by the PMC highlighted that the entrance areas of the city, including Dhayari, Hadapsar, Warje, Kothrud, Baner, Pashan, and Aundh, have the highest number of underdeveloped roads. For instance, 40 kilometers of roads in Dhayari and 45 kilometers in Hadapsar are still only on paper.
To address the issue systematically, the PMC has decided to prioritize the development of short but crucial roads in the first phase. Among them, 38 roads have been selected, ranging from 20 to 300 meters in length. The Commissioner has issued orders to expedite the process of acquiring these roads.
To facilitate this endeavor, separate engineers will be assigned to each road. They will identify the reasons for non-possession of the road and resolve any related issues within one to six months to facilitate the takeover of these roads. Additional Commissioner Vikas Dhakne has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing this project.
The delay in possession of the roads can be attributed to various factors, such as demands for cash payments, pending payment of TDR (Transfer of Development Rights) and FSI (Floor Space Index), unauthorized construction, non-possession of government land, court cases, and protracted possession processes for premises.
The undeveloped roads are distributed as follows:
- 48.18 kilometers: Old boundary of Pune city
- 93.21 kilometers: 23 villages included in 1997
- 180.0 kilometers: 11 villages included in 2011 (RP)
- 80.05 kilometers: 23 villages included in 2021
The 38 selected roads span the following areas: Hadapsar, Kondhwa, Katraj, Ambegaon Narhe, Vadgaon, Karvenagar, Kothrud, Sutarwadi, Lohgaon, Kharadi, and Yerwada.
