3 min readPuneMar 31, 2026 05:33 PM IST
First published on: Mar 31, 2026 at 05:33 PM IST
Following the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) intervention that halted and later led to the demolition of a riverside road from Vithalwadi to Warje, the Maharashtra government has shifted its focus to an alternative solution. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to submit a proposal for a new elevated road spanning from Vithalwadi Temple to Nanded City.
The directive follows a sustained demand from local legislator and Minister of State for Urban Development, Madhuri Misal, who represents the Parvati constituency.
“The construction of an elevated road from Vithalwadi Temple to Nanded City is in the larger public interest,” CM Fadnavis stated in a communication to the Urban Development ministry. Following this, Secretary Shivaji Chavan urged the PMC to immediately prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the Chief Minister’s Office.
Learning from NGT setback
The current push for an elevated design is a direct response to the failure of the previous riverside road project. Initially, the PMC attempted to build a road alongside the Mutha River by raising the land and creating embankments.
However, civic activists challenged the project, arguing it would restrict the river’s flow. In 2017, the NGT ordered the PMC to stop all work on the Vithalwadi-Warje stretch, demolish the embankments to prevent potential flooding, and restore the riverbed to its original state.
The PMC had already spent Rs 20 crore on the initial construction and was forced to spend an additional Rs 7 crore to comply with the demolition order.
“For PMC, the proposal of an elevated road will include environmental management plans to mitigate adverse environmental impact due to the implementation of the project. In addition, a water environment study would have to be carried out to determine the nature and frequency of possible flooding, water quality, water use, fauna species and habitats,” said a civic officer.
A survey focusing on the socio-economic and health environment will be conducted to assess the activities and individuals potentially affected by the project. In addition, an ecological survey will be performed to evaluate the condition of the local flora and fauna. Furthermore, the PMC will need to conduct a detailed study of the impact of traffic, as well as assessments of noise and air quality.
Incidentally, Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, residing in the Mutha River area, has urged Pune Metro to reconsider its plan for a metro route midway along the existing Sinhagad road and to either construct it along the Mutha River or along the canal route from Khadakwasla to Swargate.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the PMC to submit a proposal for a new elevated road spanning from Vithalwadi Temple to Nanded City (File photo). 
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