Pune: Delayed Land Acquisition Stalls Nagar Road Development, Causes Severe Traffic Congestion, Complain ResidentsÂ
Pune: Delayed Land Acquisition Stalls Nagar Road Development, Causes Severe Traffic Congestion, Complain ResidentsÂ
Nagar Road, a critical arterial route in Pune, continues to suffer from traffic bottlenecks due to the failure of authorities to acquire key plots marked for road widening in the 1987 Development Plan (DP). Despite being earmarked for development, 14 specific locations on Nagar Road remain unacquired, leading to varying road widths and persistent congestion. This has resulted in increased demand for costly flyovers, grade separators, and bridges, which could have been avoided with timely land acquisition.
The Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum, led by convenor Qaneez Sukhrani and other members of the group have been constantly raising the demand with the local authorities and are now seeking solutions from the newly elected Member of Parliament as well as Member of Legislative Assembly to provide relief from traffic.
The following locations are among those identified in the DP but remain unacquired, contributing to the ongoing issues:
- Sr. nos. 1966, 1968, 1969
- Sr. nos. 1970-V, 1971
- Sr. nos. 204/205 (part), 206 (part), 207-10 (part)
- TPS no. 1-72, Sr. nos. 13 (part), 40-44, 44 (part), 45, 47, 48, 49, 134, and 55 (part)
Similarly, delays in acquiring land for the Shivane-Kharadi Road project, initiated over a decade ago, have hindered its completion. The unacquired plots are obstructing the development of this bypass, which could significantly reduce traffic on Nagar Road by an estimated 45%. These plots include:
- S. nos. 11, 9 (in 2 parts), 5 (in 3 parts), 57, 56, 55, 59
- S. nos. 233 (in 3 parts), 146, 18, and 20 (in 4 parts)
Adding to the woes, Viman Nagar, a rapidly growing neighborhood, faces severe congestion due to narrow streets not aligned with the DP’s recommended widths. Unregulated parking by autos, taxicabs, and private vehicles, coupled with the rapid establishment of IT companies and educational institutions, has worsened the situation. Key roads in Viman Nagar reveal stark discrepancies between current widths and those prescribed in the DP:
| Road Description | Current Width | DP 1987 Width |
|---|---|---|
| VIP Airport Road | 18.30m | 30m |
| Mhada Road (Camelot to Gangapuram) | 13m-18.3m | 20m |
| Gangapuram to CCD Chowk | 18.3m | 18.3m |
| Oakwood to Sakhore Nagar | Not developed | 18m |
| Malhotra Road to Nagar Road | 18.3m | 18m |
| Neco Garden Road to Kashmiri | 10m | Not in DP |
The Association of Nagar Road Citizens Forum, led by convenor Qaneez Sukhrani, has raised these issues repeatedly. Sukhrani emphasized that timely action by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is essential to prevent further escalation of traffic and environmental challenges. The forum, supported by members like Ashutosh Mashruwala, Umesh Magar, Abbas Gadhia, and Shyam Kuddyadi, continues to advocate for expeditious resolution and adherence to the DP’s provisions.
