PMC Expert Committee Panel Calls for New Study on Proposed Balbharati-Paud Phata Link Road Project
By: Pune Pulse
August 31, 2023
Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made changes to the Balbharati-Paud road project and has made a ‘new plan’ to prepare the hill without informing the expert committee panel. Hence, the panel has requested to conduct a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regarding the project.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, Prashant Inamdar, a member of the PMC expert committee panel said, “The PMC has made a lot of changes in the plan of the proposed Balbharati-Paud Phata Road without involving the expert committee panel. The changes were made by the PMC in the project in July 2023. We were not informed about it either. According to the High Court, it is mandatory to involve the expert committee members at all stages regarding this project. New changes are again expected to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment. Even this wasn’t informed to us. We haven’t been involved in anything since I submitted my report to the PMC in July 2021. After that, the PMC is just handling this on their own without our involvement.”
As per more information by Inamdar, these new changes in the road are more dangerous for the hill. Environmental impact assessment is not done. The project is being rated based on the old report. The High Court has directed that the project should not be undertaken without the final opinion of the expert committee
Earlier the road was going through the hill. It is now going to be converted into a flyover where the bridge ends near Paud Road. A lot of things like approval of townships on both sides, subway and flyover proposed on Senapati Bapat road, etc. are required. However, the PMC isn’t considering this.
To reduce traffic congestion on Law College Road, Pune Municipal Corporation proposed Balbharati-Poud Road. The people of Pune protested as this would damage the Vetal hill. But after a few days of silence, the municipal corporation re-aligned this road. The changes are very big and will cause more damage to the hill & environment.
Sumita Kale, Member of Vetal Tekdi Bachao Samiti, Pune said, “The metro is expanding. Punekars should use it more and more. So, there will be no traffic jams. Also, the damage to the environment will stop. If the use of the Metro increases, there is no need for Balbharati-Paud road. PMC just assured us that the traffic on Law College Road would be reduced by this. But why at the expense of damaging the ecology & environment?”
