Pune: Bombay High Court Lifts Stay On Land Acquisition, Clears Way For Balewadi-Wakad Bridge Approach Road
Pune: Bombay High Court Lifts Stay On Land Acquisition, Clears Way For Balewadi-Wakad Bridge Approach Road
Pune, February 26, 2026: The Bombay High Court has removed the stay on the land acquisition required to construct the approach road for the Balewadi-Wakad bridge over the Mula River, allowing authorities to proceed with acquiring the land under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The matter arose after landowner Ankush Balwadkar filed a writ petition seeking compensation and a stay on the acquisition of his property, which is crucial for the completion of the approach road to the bridge connecting Balewadi to Kaspate Wasti. The High Court had earlier imposed a stay on December 8, 2025.
Advocate Satya Muley, representing the petitioners in PIL 106 of 2024 Abhijeet Garad and Sandeep Mandloi intervened in Balwadkar’s writ petition, highlighting the High Court’s previous order that had directed the urgent acquisition of the land. He argued that neighborhoods of Baner and Balewadi in Pune Municipal Corporation are separated from Wakad and Kaspate Vasti in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation by the Mula River. Over the past two decades, these areas have experienced rapid population growth, construction, and commercial development.
The High Court noted, “The urgency in the matter for construction of an approach road to the bridge over the Mula-Mutha River cannot be denied. The bridge has already been constructed, but the public cannot use it because the approach road remains incomplete. The plight of the general public was highlighted in PIL No.106 of 2024, where authorities were expected to complete formalities and acquire the necessary portion of land to facilitate construction.”
The PMC has submitted that it is ready to deposit the required proportionate compensation with the land acquisition officer, following the procedure prescribed under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.
Advocate Muley also highlighted the worsening traffic situation in the region, noting that residents of Balewadi, Baner, and Wakad face severe bottlenecks daily. The lack of the bridge forces commuters onto the congested Mumbai-Bangalore Highway via Radha Chowk, adding 5–6 kilometers to travel and increasing travel time by 40–60 minutes, wasting fuel and time. Residents of Wakad working in Balewadi and Baner are particularly affected, with the alternative route from Vishal Nagar being inconvenient.
The High Court directed the PMC and the State, through the Collector and the concerned Land Acquisition Officer, to immediately initiate the acquisition process in accordance with the law and the provisions of the 2013 Act. The acquisition must be completed at the earliest, and in any case, within one year from the date of the order.
Speaking on behalf of the petitioners, Advocate Satya Muley said, “This is a curious case, as the PIL regarding the bridge was widely reported, but the landowner did not come forward at that time, and the PMC did not report any difficulties. Now that the writ petition was filed seeking a stay, it was the PMC’s duty to inform the court about the earlier PIL 106 of 2024, where land acquisition was already directed under the urgency clause. We will continue monitoring to ensure the bridge is opened to the public as soon as possible.”
