‘Who will take it up and when?’: BJP MLA Hemant Rasane seeks clarification on stalled Pune tunnel project

Last year, Rasane had proposed a four-lane tunnel from Shaniwarwada to Swargate and Sarasbaug to Shaniwarwada, as an alternative to Shivaji Road and Bajirao Road. “The heart of Pune city witnesses traffic chaos every day. The tunnel project is expected to enable an environmentally friendly passage for vehicles that would ensure the conservation of heritage structures. Over 1 lakh vehicles pass through the road every day,” he said.

While the state public works department was directed to prepare the DPR initially, it later conveyed that the work had been handed over to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) under the state urban development department.

“They, too, have failed to start work on the DPR. The responsibility has been pushed from one department to another for a year,” Rasane alleged.

Minister Uday Samant said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadanavis had convened a meeting to discuss the proposal and gave directions to prepare a DPR. “However, there is confusion within the two state government departments on who should take up the responsibility, as it is under the PMC area. The matter has again been referred to the chief minister, who has decided to discuss it within the next 15 days,” Samant said.

Earlier this year, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had to drop his plan to visit the project site after he was stuck in traffic. Rasane had requested Gadkari to grant central funding for the project, and he had reportedly assured that the Centre would help.