Pune to get network of road tunnels to fix major traffic concerns: Fadnavis

The Ring Road will also ease traffic situations in a big way in the city as vehicles get diverted from outside the city. "The main reason for traffic in Pune is the bottlenecks at the entry and exit points of the city.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Predicting that Pune and Navi Mumbai will emerge as leading Global Capability Centres (GCC) in the country that will be hubs of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country and will contribute in a big way to the growth of the economy of India, Chief Minister Devendra Fadanavis on Monday said that the development of the city has to be according to growing needs for which Pune city will get a network of road tunnels to resolve its major problem of traffic congestion.

Fadanavis, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various civic projects worth Rs 3,000 crore in Pune city ahead of the civic polls. “All the civic projects inaugurated today are of public benefit which will ease lives of common people,” Fadanavis said, adding that most of the projects are of water supply, sewage treatment and improving traffic.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has already taken up road infrastructure work to resolve traffic issues of the city which include developing missing links of 32 roads. “Mobility is a big issue in Pune. Traffic congestion and pollution due to that is of concern. The city needs to have road infrastructure that decongest existing roads. The city and its population will continue to grow. Thus, there is a need for solutions like a network of tunnel roads which will solve the traffic issue. These tunnels will cut across the city and ease the traffic on the road,” said Fadnavis.

The Ring Road will also ease traffic situations in a big way in the city as vehicles get diverted from outside the city. “The main reason for traffic in Pune is the bottlenecks at the entry and exit points of the city. It takes two hours for the vehicles moving out of the city due to traffic congestion. The elevated roads being planned on the highways of Nagar road, Solapur road will resolve the issue of bottlenecks in the area,” said Fadnavis. A comprehensive Mobility plan for the city has been prepared and the metro expansion has received good response in Pune, he said, adding that the addition of 1,000 electric buses in public transport would provide seamless connectivity.

The Chief Minister said all states in the country have only one mega city that contributes to economic growth, but Maharashtra is the only state in the country with two megacities, Mumbai and Pune, that contribute in a big way to economic growth of the nation. “Pune is the growth engine of the state. It has a world class facility and a hub of manufacturing and IT industry. India is predicted to be the capital of data centres. There will be a data driven economy in the future. Pune along with Navi Mumbai will be the AI hub of the country,” he said.

Pawar said that is taking big strides towards development. “We cannot stop the progress but have to be prepared to handle it and meet the growing needs of the city. Traffic issues are being resolved with metro rail and road infrastructure. Water is going to be a big concern in the future and there are plans to meet rising water demand through Mulshi dam which till date was used only for power generation.”

Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol said that the BJP in the last ten years has ensured proper development of the city by bringing in mega infrastructure projects. “For many years I was just hearing about metro rail but it was during BJP rule that it became a reality,” he said.

Projects inaugurated

Story continues below this ad

Road Infrastructure for Pune Grand Tour Cycle Race – Rs 145.75 crore
Footpath Repair drive – Rs 12 crore
17 Overhead water tanks and 24 by 7 supply in 35 zones – Rs 595.85 crore
Sewage Treatment Plant at Katraj – Rs 13.31 crore
Fire Stations at Kharadi, Kothrud and Baner- Rs 21 crore
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College building – Rs 174 crore
75 Model Schools – Rs 34 crore
PET Scan, Radio Diagnostic facility- Rs 32 crore
Integrated Command and Control Centre – Rs 111.75 crore
Snake Park renovation – Rs 64 crore

Foundation stones laid for projects

New Water Treatment Plant at Vadgaon Budruk – Rs 186.92 crore
Flyover and Grade separators at Yerwada and Ganeshkhind Road – Rs 182.67 crore
Beautification of two Airport Roads – Rs 56 crore
Water supply system in Shewalewadi- Rs 36.55 crore
Water supply system in Keshavnagar- Rs 27.45 crore
Sewage Treatment Plants in extended area of city – Rs 270 crore

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
pune