The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched the second phase of the Ganeshkhind Road widening project, focusing on the 2-kilometre stretch between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Sancheti Hospital. This move comes as part of an ongoing effort to alleviate chronic traffic congestion along one of the city’s most critical corridors, while also supporting the infrastructure of Pune Metro Line 3.This phase follows the completion of the first segment of the project, which extended from Pune University Chowk to RBI and was undertaken to facilitate the construction of a double-decker flyover by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
The innovative structure includes a lower deck for vehicular traffic and an upper deck to accommodate the metro viaduct—an integrated mobility solution aimed at shifting Pune towards more sustainable and mass-transit-oriented urban development.According to officials from PMC’s road department, land acquisition remains the most pressing challenge for this phase. Of the 52 properties located along the proposed expansion stretch, only 12 have so far handed over land to the civic body. These properties include prominent institutions such as the Agriculture College, Rahul Theatre, Shivajinagar police chowky, Hardikar Hospital, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, parts of the CoEP hostel, and the LIC building. Negotiations are currently underway with both private stakeholders and public institutions, with the PMC’s land and estate department overseeing acquisition proceedings.
The estimated cost of civil works for the road widening stands at ₹58 crore, excluding compensation and land acquisition costs. Civic authorities stated that budgetary planning for land procurement is being finalised separately, and due diligence will be followed in compensating landholders fairly.Ganeshkhind Road serves as a vital connector between Pune University, Shivajinagar, and the railway station—three heavily trafficked nodes in the city’s urban grid. With daily vehicle volumes continuing to rise and last-mile public transport solutions yet to reach full efficiency, the widening project is expected to not only improve traffic flow but also better integrate with the under-construction Pune Metro network.
Urban mobility experts have pointed out that the success of this project could serve as a benchmark for similar city-level road interventions, provided it maintains a strong focus on equitable urban access and environmental impact. While easing vehicular congestion is a key goal, city planners emphasise that infrastructure upgrades must align with broader efforts to curb carbon emissions, promote public transport use, and protect civic heritage.The project has drawn attention for its proximity to key educational and administrative landmarks, raising concerns around potential disruptions during construction. PMC has assured that care will be taken to minimise impact on institutional operations and that coordination with stakeholders will remain transparent and ongoing.
For a city like Pune, where urban expansion and ecological balance often exist in tension, the Ganeshkhind Road expansion is not just a civil works initiative—it represents a test of the city’s ability to implement future-ready, people-centred infrastructure. The coming months will be crucial in determining how effectively the administration can translate this vision into ground-level progress, setting a tone for sustainable mobility across the metropolitan region.
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