Pune: PMC Pushes To Clear 18 Missing Road Links To Ease City’s Traffic Woes
Pune: Demerger of Uruli Devachi, Phursungi May Reduce PMC Corporators, Raise Representation Concerns
As Pune rapidly expands toward megacity status, daily traffic congestion has emerged as one of the city’s most pressing issues. While many blame population growth and rising vehicle numbers, a closer look reveals that an incomplete and fragmented road network is the underlying cause. Despite a proposal in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Development Plan (DP) to develop nearly 450 km of roads, implementation has been delayed due to land acquisition hurdles. Currently, over 675 critical road links — ranging from 10-metre stretches to more than a kilometer — remain incomplete, severely impacting urban mobility.
To address this long-standing issue, PMC has identified 18 high-priority road links that could significantly decongest Pune’s main corridors if completed. These include key bypasses and connectors around Karve Road, Nagar Road, Solapur Road, and other overburdened areas.
Some of the major pending links include:
- NH Rosary School to Dr. Ambedkar Chowk, where landowner objections continue to stall progress despite approved compensation.
- A critical link from Ambedkar Chowk to Rajaram Bridge via Javalkar Garden, aimed at reducing pressure on Karve Road.
- The Mundhwa Chowk to Keshavnagar Road connection, with partial land acquisition already in place.
- Gunjan Chowk to HSBC Bank, where legal barriers are delaying the start of construction.
- Several links in Baner, Kothrud, and Pashan facing either resident resistance, encroachments, or pending litigation.
- The Vision Cricket Academy to NH Hingne link and VIT Chowk to Kondhwa Fire Station road, both delayed due to administrative bottlenecks.
In some cases, minor obstacles — such as a single toilet or residential fencing — have halted progress for years. Encroachments, lack of relocation policies, and insufficient coordination have contributed to years of inaction. Furthermore, many private landowners have shown preference for direct compensation over Transferable Development Rights (TDR) or Floor Space Index (FSI), adding financial pressure on the civic body.
PMC officials acknowledged that nearly 450 km of proposed road length in the DP remains on paper. These gaps force heavy traffic onto existing narrow roads, creating bottlenecks across the city. With the missing links requiring only about 9 km of land acquisition, their completion is expected to unlock 61 km of new road network — offering smoother traffic flow and alternative routes.
In a renewed effort, PMC has allocated ₹200 crore in the first phase to expedite land acquisition. Administrative measures and legal strategies are being employed to overcome resistance and disputes, while civic and political leadership have shown heightened commitment to completing these long-overdue projects.
The initiative marks a shift from reactive traffic control to proactive infrastructure development, aiming to make Pune’s road network more resilient and responsive to its growing population.
