Pune Ring Road Project: Rs.42,711 Crore Plan to Ease Traffic – Know Everything About Its Cost, Benefits, and Progress
96% Land Acquired For Pune Ring Road, Work To Begin Soon
Three decades in the making, MLAs demand to begin ring road project on priority
The Pune Ring Road project, first envisioned in 1997 and announced in 2016, aims to reduce traffic congestion, cut pollution, and support suburban development. Despite its promising goals, the project has faced significant delays, with tricky land acquisition processes and rising costs being major hurdles.
Recent Developments
The Maharashtra cabinet recently approved an additional ₹20,375.21 crore for the project, bringing the total cost to ₹42,711.03 crore. This budget revision comes just three years after the previous estimate, even though construction is yet to begin.
Adding to the momentum, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) clarified that the recent ceremony held near Kesnand village was not an official groundbreaking event but a traditional inauguration by the contractor for their office and machinery. A traditional prayer ceremony was conducted at Wadebolhai village, signaling the contractor’s commitment to the project. Over 100 excavation machines and equipment have been deployed, demonstrating readiness to expedite construction.
Project Overview
The 170-km Pune Ring Road, which will connect 83 villages, is expected to link key inter-district highways like Pune-Ahmednagar, Pune-Solapur, Pune-Bengaluru, Pune-Nashik, and Pune-Mumbai.
Eastern Segment
• Route: Urse (Mumbai-Pune Expressway) to Solu (Alandi-Markal Road) to Sortapwadi (Pune-Solapur Road).
• Length: Increased from 68.19 km to 72.335 km.
• Cost: Jumped from ₹10,159.82 crore in 2021 to ₹19,932.98 crore.
• Connectivity: Will link critical arteries such as Pune-Nagar Road and Solapur Highway, providing a seamless commute for the rapidly growing population of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Western Segment
• Route: Urse to Varve Budruk (Satara Road).
• Cost: Escalated from ₹12,176 crore to ₹22,778.05 crore.
Execution and Progress
The MSRDC is leading the project, with 90% of land acquisition reportedly complete. District Collector Suhas Diwase has directed officials to expedite the final phase of acquisitions, and five contractors have been selected for construction.
Phased Implementation
• Phase 1: Solu Interchange to Vadgaon Shinde (4.7 km).
• Phase 2: Pune-Ahmednagar Road to Solapur Road (71.89 km).
• Phase 3: Pune-Solapur Road to Pune-Satara Road (21.23 km).
• Phase 4: Pune-Satara Road to Parandwadi Interchange (44.80 km).
Challenges and Outlook
The revised budget and land acquisition issues could lead to further delays. However, the deployment of machinery and the initiation of construction activities at Wadebolhai mark a significant step forward. With compensation announced for affected landowners and a push from local leaders, the project is poised to make progress.
Many MLAs, including Siddharth Shirole emphasized, the outer ring road is essential for Pune’s current and future growth, promising relief from the city’s acute traffic congestion. Residents and commuters await the long-overdue start of construction, hopeful that this critical infrastructure project will soon transition from planning to reality.
