The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is making significant progress in the development of Pune's infrastructure with the nearing completion of the comprehensive project report for the ring road. This marks a major milestone in the city's infrastructure development.
The proposed ring road has a total length of 128 kilometers and will feature fifteen flyovers, two railway flyovers, and five tunnels. PMRDA has submitted land acquisition proposals for the initial five-kilometer stretch between Solu, Nirgudi, and Vadgaon Shinde near Lohegaon to the district administration, indicating progress in the first phase of the project.
Ramdas Jagtap, the Public Relations Officer and Deputy Collector of PMRDA, stated that the detailed project report (DPR) for the ring road is in its final stage. He mentioned that the initial phase will prioritise the five-kilometer stretch between Solu and Vadgaon Shinde, and land acquisition proposals for this segment have been submitted to the district administration. The revised cost of the ring road has also been recently approved.
However, the land acquisition process is expected to face challenges, particularly due to existing constructions along the proposed route. These obstacles, along with other factors, may lead to an increase in project costs. PMRDA acknowledges the opposition to the ring road and the government's reluctance to provide funding.
The presence of the existing 'MSRDC' ring road, located approximately 15 kilometers away from the proposed ring road and spanning 110 meters in width, has led to a decision to reduce the width of the new road.
PMRDA has obtained state government approval to construct a 65-meter wide ring road and has appointed a consulting company to prepare the project report. The survey work and report preparation are now in the final stages, according to PMRDA.
Key aspects of the proposed ring road include:
- Eight phases of construction
- Fifteen flyovers, two railway flyovers, and five tunnels
- Total length of 128 kilometers, with PMRDA responsible for approximately 88 kilometers and the remaining 40 kilometers falling under MSRDC's jurisdiction
- The Municipal Corporation will oversee the construction of the 5.70-kilometer stretch passing through its jurisdiction.
The first phase of development will focus on the five-kilometer stretch between Solu and Vadgaon Shinde. Land acquisition proposals for this segment have been prepared and forwarded to the District Collector for approval. PMRDA intends to promptly initiate the land acquisition process for this area.
The recent approval of PMRDA's budget by the Maharashtra state government also includes the endorsement of the ring road improvement expenditure, totaling around Rs 140 billion. A significant portion of this budget, approximately Rs 58 billion, is expected to be allocated for land acquisition.
