PUNE: In a bid to ease the worsening traffic congestion on Nagar Road, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to promptly dismantle the incomplete Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor that runs between Somnath Nagar Chowk and Kharadi Bypass Chowk. The move follows multiple complaints about traffic bottlenecks and accidents due to the half-finished infrastructure.
During a recent review meeting held to discuss civic issues in the Vadgaon Sheri constituency, Pawar also urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to revise its plan for the upcoming two-tier flyover. Initially slated to terminate at Wagholi, the flyover will now be extended up to Viman Nagar near Phoenix Mall, he instructed. The Pune civic body has also been told to expedite the No Objection Certificate (NOC) needed for this expansion.
The meeting was attended by former Vadgaon Sheri MLA Sunil Tingre, PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Additional Commissioner Pradeep Chandran, City Engineer Prashant Waghmare, Water Supply Head Nandkumar Jagtap, former corporators, and other senior officials.
Former MLA Tingre flagged the dangerous state of the incomplete BRT stretch and emphasized the urgent need for its removal to reduce accidents and traffic chaos. Taking note of the issue, Pawar directed the municipal commissioner to take swift action, to which the commissioner responded with assurances of immediate compliance.
Pawar also connected with Chief Secretary Sujata Saini via phone during the meeting, pushing for the extension of the Shirur-Wagholi two-tier flyover all the way to Viman Nagar. He stressed the importance of expanding the infrastructure to accommodate growing traffic demands in Pune’s eastern corridor.
Residents from Vadgaon Sheri, Ganesh Nagar, Somnath Nagar, Kharadi, and Viman Nagar have been grappling with water supply shortages. Complaints surfaced about tanker operators charging residents for water deliveries, despite the service being free. In response, Pawar instructed that all PMC water tankers must clearly display “Free Tankers” signage to prevent exploitation and ensure transparency. He also called for the swift restoration of regular water supply to the affected neighborhoods.
In a separate development, representatives from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) met with Pawar regarding a redevelopment project in Yerawada. They requested expedited permissions from PMC for the ongoing Housing Board redevelopment. Pawar assured them that the required approvals would be facilitated at the earliest to keep the project on track.
These directives underscore the state government’s proactive approach to tackling critical urban challenges in Pune, ranging from traffic management and housing to essential utilities like water supply.
