Pune’s 30-Meter DP Road Sparks Controversy: Citizens Warn Of Ecological Disaster

Pune, February 13, 2025 — The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) 𝟯𝟬-𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 (𝗗𝗣) 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 parallel to River Front Development along the Mula-Mutha River has sparked fierce debate, with environmentalists and residents warning of irreversible damage to the city’s green cover, worsening traffic congestion, and alarming flood risks. The project, part of the broader Riverfront Development (RFD) initiative, threatens over 𝟳,𝟰𝟬𝟬 trees for the 3 ongoing stretches of RFD, while also contradicting newly revealed flood risk data from the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute (𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜), Nashik.  

With floodplain encroachments, debris dumping, and increased water levels now scientifically proven, citizens are calling for an 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 30-𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙 to prevent a disaster in the making.  

𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀: 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀  

A shocking new MERI report, commissioned by the High Court, has revealed that previous PMC flood line calculations were dangerously underestimated, leading to illegal encroachments and flawed planning.  

– Floodwater levels for 100-year floods are 2.7 times higher than previously recorded.  

– Flood lines were deliberately shifted inward, allowing unsafe riverbank constructions.  

– The Mutha, Mula, and Mula-Mutha rivers face unprecedented flood risks, as flood discharge volumes have nearly doubled in some cases.  

These findings completely invalidate PMC’s plans for a road within the floodplain, making the project not just environmentally reckless but also a serious public safety hazard.  

Sarang Yadwadkar, an environmental activist and other petitioners of PIL 36/2021 have already urged PMC, PCMC, and the State Government to take immediate steps, including:

– Removing all encroachments from riverbeds and floodplains.

– Stopping debris dumping and illegal construction that exacerbates flooding risks.

– Ensuring stricter flood line enforcement based on MERI’s updated data.

The work on the 30-meter DP road has now begun, and environmentalists in Pune warn that this project poses a direct threat to both life and property.

𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀: 𝗔 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁  

Beyond flood risks, the RFD project is poised to destroy over 7,400 trees across key riverbank stretches 9, 10, 11. Activists argue that permissions for tree felling were intentionally bundled together for both the 30-meter road and the RFD, preventing proper scrutiny.  

Ameet Singh, a concerned citizen, questioned, “𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘥? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴.”  

Citizens have proposed realigning the road to reduce tree loss, but PMC has ignored these alternatives, further fueling allegations of opaque decision-making.  

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗲: 𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸  

The 30-meter DP road is also poised to worsen Pune’s traffic chaos rather than ease it.  

– The road abruptly terminates at Bundgarden Chowk, one of Pune’s most congested zones.  

– Low clearances at bridges like Yerwada will bottleneck the new road, making it unusable during peak hours.  

– No traffic impact study has been conducted, despite clear risks of merging chaos.  

Singh stated, “𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘹. 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴.”  

With no evidence of proper planning, many believe that the 30-meter road is a political project rather than a mobility solution.  

𝗢𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸     

Despite repeated requests, PMC has failed to release key project documents, including elevation plans, material specifications, and cross-section designs.  

Rekha Joshi, a Pune resident, said, “𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸.”  

Citizens attempting site inspections have been denied access, further intensifying concerns about hidden agendas and reckless decision-making.  

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗔 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹  

– Stretch 9 (Bundgarden to Mundhwa, right): 1,979 trees  

– Stretch 10 & 11 (Bundgarden to Mundhwa, right): 1,245 trees  

– Stretch 9 (Bundgarden Pool to Mundhwa, right): 95 trees  

– Stretch 10 & 11 (Bundgarden to Mundhwa, left): 1,236 trees  

– Sangamwadi Pool to Sadal Baba Dargah: 2,941 trees  

PMC continues to frame tree felling as a necessity for “𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁,” but experts argue that the lack of an ecosystem-based approach makes this justification meaningless.  

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀  

With flood risks, tree felling, and traffic gridlock looming, the 30-meter DP road is proving to be an indefensible project. Citizens, armed with hard data from the MERI report, are now demanding its immediate cancellation.  

Ameetraj from the Pune River Revival Group stated, “𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.”  

𝑨 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑷𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔, 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝑴𝑪 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏.