Top govt institutes give survey permission for Pashan-Panchavati-Kothrud tunnel

Pune, September 1, 2020: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) plan of making a tunnel through the hills yo connect Pashan-Panchavati area with Kothrud is likely to move forward as Forest department, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) and Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) have given permission to conduct geological survey.

This project was introduced in 2017 in PMC annual budget and PMC administration appointed a consultant for the project with an estimated cost Rs 224 crore.

The project consists of two tunnels, Kothrud-Panchvati and Panchvati-Gokhalenagar which will connect each other. It will help  reduce the distance between Pashan and Kothrud. In a recent divisional commissioner meeting, deputy CM of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, instructed all government institutes to cooperate with PMC.

After that the State Forest department, ARAI, NCL and ARDE gave NOC to the civic body to conduct geological survey in their premises. The survey was pending due to lack of permission from these government institutes since 2017.

At present, Punekars have to travel around 2.9km to reach Gokhalenagar via Pune University chowk. After the completion of Panchvati-Gokhalenagar tunnel, the distance will reduce to 1.30 km. Project will help to reduce traffic load on Chandani Chowk, Bavdhan Road, Law College Road, Senapati Bapat Road and Pune University chowk.

Width – 24 meters

Length of tunnel – 1670m (Total estimated cost- Rs 224 crore)

Kothrud to Panchvati – 1090m (Rs 146.90 crore)

Panchavati- Gokhalenagar – 580 m (Rs 77.10 crore)