Riverside road project stuck again

The aim of the whole project was to give an alternative route from Warje to Shivajinagar by connecting the riverside road to the existing road at Mhatre Bridge.

The PMC administration had proposed the riverside road cutting across the city and alongside the riverbed,in a bid to reduce the dense traffic on city roads by providing an easy and time-saving alternative.

The project had been held up for years after objections by environmentalists who feared it would impact the ecology of the river and reduce its water carrying capacity. Recently,the court decided in favour of PMC and allowed the road to be built.

The PMC developed the road from Shaniwarwada to Deccan and Deccan to Pulachiwadi. It also developed a road connecting Mhatre Bridge and Rajaram Bridge. The problem is now in getting the connecting link built between the riverside road and Mhatre Bridge and the stretch from Rajaram Bridge to warje.

“The riverside road is used by many citizens but due to poor connecting link to Mhatre bridge,the narrow lane faces traffic jams everyday. The problem would be solved if the road is connected to the bridge directly,” said local MNS corporator Anil Rane.

He said the civic administration was urged to take up the work with immediate effect as it would help in easing traffic pressure on the city roads.

“The PMC is facing a problem in acquiring the land as the owner is objecting to it saying very less compensation is being given to him. The land falls in the green belt and only .04 per cent transfer of development rights (TDR) is allowed for the area,” said additional municipal commissioner Rajendra Jagtap.

The PMC administration had taken up the issue with the state government but there has been no solution so far,he added.

Similarly,the civic administration efforts to acquire land for developing the road from Rajaram Bridge to Warje is facing a problem with part of the land falling on the green belt.

“The land owners are opposing the PMC demand for land as they claim they are getting full compensation. Part of the land is getting a TDR equal to the area while part of it is .04 per cent since it is in green belt,” he added.