₹140 Crore Allocated for Land Acquisition on Katraj-Kondhwa Road in Pune.

The state government has earmarked ₹140 crore to expedite land acquisition for the widening of Katraj-Kondhwa Road, reigniting hopes for swift progress on the project.

Earlier, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had faced challenges in acquiring land as most landowners sought cash compensation, delaying the project originally slated for completion by March 2025.

"The administration's limited funds posed hurdles in providing cash to landowners, resulting in sluggish progress," explained a senior civic official.

Previously, the state government had sanctioned ₹200 crore, with PMC having utilized approximately ₹48 crore already. The Katraj-Kondhwa Road spans Rajas Society, Khadi Machine Chowk, and the newly merged Pisoli area. Delays in its completion have frustrated commuters who demand immediate action on the stretch.

"The commuting problem on Katraj-Kondhwa Road worsens during the monsoon. Potholes and heavy vehicle traffic make travel hazardous," voiced Rucha Joshi, a resident of Bibvewadi.

Citizens also highlighted issues such as the incomplete Katraj flyover and illegal autorickshaw stands encroaching on roads, exacerbating traffic congestion. "Katraj connects to multiple state and national highways. A flyover was planned to manage traffic better, but its delayed construction has forced heavy traffic onto lower roads," noted commuter Rohit Narra.

Traffic police officer Chandrakant Pisal attributed irregular traffic conditions in Katraj to overpopulation and the high volume of PMPML buses. "Traffic increases daily, but road widths remain unchanged. We're doing our best to regulate traffic," Pisal stated.

PMC officials indicated that the 3-km Katraj-Kondhwa Road's width had shrunk from 84m to 50m due to land availability constraints. PMC requires approximately 2.88 lakh sqm of land, of which 1.60 lakh sqm is already in its possession.

"Service line installations on nearly half of the road are complete. Construction of an underpass and flyover near the road is ongoing," reported a PMC official to TOI.

PMC has urged major landowners and developers to contribute land via transfer development rights (TDR), while smaller property owners will receive cash compensation to expedite the project.

Yogesh Tilekar, former MLA of Hadapsar, emphasized, "The road project stemmed from citizen protests and elected officials' efforts. Lack of funds had stalled the project, but the previous MVA government finally allocated the necessary funds despite subsequent announcements."

ET