Special Correspondent
Pune: City is set to undergo a significant infrastructure transformation following Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minister, and district Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar’s budget announcement. Presenting his 11th state budget, Pawar outlined substantial investments aimed at enhancing the city’s transportation, urban development, and sports infrastructure, reinforcing Pune’s role in Maharashtra’s growth strategy.
One of the key highlights of the budget is the ambitious Pune to Shirur elevated road project, which spans 564 km and is valued at ₹7,515 crore. This initiative aims to decongest traffic and improve commuting efficiency. Additionally, a 25 km road stretch from Talegaon to Chakan, featuring four elevated roads, will be developed at a cost of ₹6,499 crore.
The Talegaon-Chakan route is known for frequent accidents due to its narrow carriageways and high traffic volume. The planned expansion is expected to improve safety, reduce congestion, and enhance industrial transport in the region.
Furthermore, an upgrade to the Pune-Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar National Highway has been approved. This includes a bypass from Shirur to Nagar, connecting Pune with the Samruddhi Expressway, along with the construction of a double flyover on the Pune-Shirur highway to streamline connectivity.
A significant boost to Pune’s public transport system is also on the horizon, with a 23.2 km metro extension set for completion this year. Additionally, a proposal worth ₹9,897 crore for Pune Metro Phase 2 has been submitted to the Central government for approval. If sanctioned, the expansion will introduce metro corridors covering Khadakwasla-Swargate-Hadapsar-Kharadi and Nal Stop-Warje-Manik Bagh.
Statewide, metro expansion remains a priority, with Maharashtra already operating 143.57 km of metro routes in Mumbai, Nagpur, and Pune. Over 10 lakh commuters benefit from metro services daily, and upcoming extensions will further ease urban mobility.
Additionally, the much-anticipated metro link between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to launch soon.
The Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, originally built in 1995 and later renovated for the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games, is slated for redevelopment. This facility, which hosts multiple sports disciplines such as athletics, badminton, basketball, wrestling, and weightlifting, will undergo long-overdue upgrades with allocated funding from the budget.
The budget also prioritizes heritage tourism, with ₹50 crore allocated for the Shivsrushti project in Ambegaon. Conceptualized by the late Padma Vibhushan awardee Babasaheb Purandare, this initiative is being developed in four phases by Maharaja Shivchhatrapati Pratishthan. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently inaugurated the second phase and committed additional funds for further development. The theme park, dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, aims to educate visitors about Maratha history through immersive experiences.
During his budget speech, Ajit Pawar reiterated Maharashtra’s commitment to sustainable development and aligned the state’s progress with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. “Maharashtra will continue moving forward, and development will not be delayed,” he affirmed.
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