Activists demand Bal-Bharati-Paud Phata road to be scrapped

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The plan for the road had been struck down twice – once by the Maharashtra State Government in 1987 on environmental grounds and by the Bombay High Court in its order on the Public Interest Litigation 156 of 2006.

Jigar Hindocha

Activists voice concern over the development plan for the Bal Bharati-Paud Phata road over Vetal Tekdi by the Pune Municipal Corporation terming it a temporary solution.

In a press conference held on Tuesday, Harshad Abhyankar, director of Save Pune Traffic Movement said,”There are many flaws in the project. The traffic study by the PMC consultant does not mention the percentage of traffic from Senapati Bhapat Road which will take the Paud road. Documents obtained through RTI show that the Environment and Social Impact Study (ESIS) consultant agrees that the road will be a ‘medium-term solution’ for 12-15 years, after which the peak hour traffic congestion on Law College Road will be back to the current level or even more.”

The plan for the road had been struck down twice – once by the Maharashtra State Government in 1987 on environmental grounds and by the Bombay High Court in its order on the Public Interest Litigation 156 of 2006.

Activists question the rationale behind PMC spending Rs 140 crore for a 2.1 kilometre environmentally destructive road to reduce traffic congestion on Law College Road for only a decade.

“Instead of constructing this road, if the public transport of Pune is strengthened with the required number of buses which is 50 for one lakh population, we estimate the congestion to come down by 40-50%. By doing this, the results will not be limited to Law College Road, but will extend to Senapati Bapat Road, Paud road and the entire city,” said Sumita Kale, member of the Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti.