CEC Stops Balbharati-Paud Phata Road Construction In Pune; Supreme Court To Examine Project
CEC Stops Balbharati-Paud Phata Road Construction In Pune; Supreme Court To Examine Project
Pune: The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the Maharashtra government to immediately stop all construction activities on the proposed Balbharati-Paud Phata Road (BBPP) project in Pune, pending further review by the apex court.
The directive, issued on May 16 and signed by CEC chairman Siddhanta Das, specifically bars any work along areas identified as “deemed forest” within the 2.1 km project alignment. The committee warned that moving forward with construction in these zones would violate the Supreme Court’s 1996 judgment in T.N. Godavarman vs Union of India and the 2023 Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules.
The intervention comes in response to a March 2024 petition filed by the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), a Pune-based citizens’ group, which urged protection of the ecologically sensitive Vetal Tekdi from what it termed “irreversible environmental damage.” The group also highlighted that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had failed to carry out both a comprehensive need assessment and an environmental impact study, as mandated by a 2016 Bombay High Court order.
Following the petition, CEC member Sunil Limaye conducted a site visit on April 12, 2024. During the inspection, around 30 concerned citizens voiced opposition to the road, emphasizing the need to preserve the fragile ecosystem. Limaye also held discussions with PMC officials and forest department representatives.
Notably, in February 2025, the Bombay High Court had dismissed a separate petition filed by NGO Nagrik Chetna Manch opposing the road’s alignment through Law College Hill. The court instructed PMC to secure necessary approvals from environmental and forest departments before proceeding.
The BBPP road, a part of Pune’s official Development Plan (DP), was proposed to ease traffic congestion on Law College Road. However, green activists argue it comes at the cost of critical green cover and biodiversity.
Reacting to the CEC’s directive, VTBKS member Amit Gadre said, “This is a major relief for everyone who has been raising their voice against the project. With construction now on hold, we await the Supreme Court’s final judgment.”
