Building Pune: PMRDA conducts feasibility study for 20-km twin tunnel from Yerawada to Katraj

“The efforts of some changes in traffic management and immediate development of small infrastructure works have shown results with congestion on city roads decreasing by 15 per cent,” said Collector Jitendra Dudi.

A PMRDA official said the twin tunnel project will ensure that vehicles going towards other parts of Pune city do not enter the city. “This will would decongest existing city roads which cannot be widened and take loads of traffic,” said the official.

He said the tunnel will feature various escape routes, allowing vehicles to enter and exit based on their specific destinations. Traffic from Nagar Road, Alandi Road, and Nashik Road will use the tunnel to travel across the city towards Bangalore or southern Maharashtra, he said.

The study to be completed in three months will include a feasibility report, geotechnical survey, the economic and financial viability of the project and a detailed feasibility report. Traffic surveys and analysis will be done, environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment, and land acquisition plan will be prepared, as per the official. He said public consultation with nearby residents, NGOs working in the area, and other stakeholders will also be done.

Traffic demand estimates, topographic surveys, hydrology studies, and challenges related to tunnel boring will be conducted, said the official. The impact on existing infrastructure will be assessed, and safety and environmental risks will also be examined, he added. The analysis will explore potential toll fees for users and evaluate the project’s viability under different public-private partnership (PPP) models.

The three tunnels for vehicular traffic proposed by the PMC in various parts of the city have faced opposition from residents and environmentalists. They are calling for a more efficient public transportation system instead of infrastructure that would promote an increasing number of vehicles on city roads.