Pune: Viman Nagar Residents Challenge PMC’s Decision on Airport Link Road, Cite Traffic Chaos

Citizens of Viman Nagar placed several demands in front of the PMC regarding the new airport link road, demanding action.

29 April 2024

By Payoshi Bisht

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has recently completed the construction of the ‘link road’ connecting the Pune Airport Terminal 2 to the residential area of Viman Nagar. However, this decision has met with concerns being raised by the residents themselves. 

There have been complaints filed by a group of three residents namely Qaneez Sukhrani, RTI activist as well as the Convenor of the Vinam Nagar citizen’s forum, Shyam Kuddyady, resident of Mhada Road and Umesh Magar, a businessman from Viman Nagar. 

These people together have filed an online petition regarding the potential congestion and traffic that can be caused as a result of this newly constructed airport road from Terminal 2 to Viman Nagar. They have pointed out the lack of foresight on the part of the PMC while constructing the road. The possible congestion is not only set to affect Viman Nagar but also other neighbouring areas such as Kalyani Nagar. 

Pune has already been hit with traffic and lack of road management in areas such as Katraj-Kondhwa, Chandni Chowk as well as the areas around the SSPU junction. All these issues point towards the lack of proper and informed decisions on the part of the PMC as well as the traffic police. Multiple pleas and questions have gone unanswered by the PMC and the traffic police department, which has brought their negligence towards civic issues into the limelight. 

The petition submitted by the citizens of Viman Nagar over the construction of the new airport link road consists of these key demands to be addressed by the PMC as well as the traffic police department. They have urged authorities to take action on these demands. 

1. Ensure entry into the Airport Terminal 2 via the old path through the terminal one gate
2. Widening the VIP airport road to ensure smooth traffic flow
3. Create a loop for one-way exit on the AAI Terminal 2 avoiding the Mhada road
4. Enhance traffic flow through designated areas, alleviate congestion
5. Widening of roads around Viman Nagar area
6. Prevent illegal parking and encroachment on roads
7. Relocate vendors and hawkers to ease out congestion on roads