Pimpri-Chinchwad is gearing up for a significant infrastructure transformation as authorities initiate the widening of service roads along National Highway 48, a critical artery through the industrial city.
The move comes in response to persistent traffic congestion and urban mobility challenges in the rapidly growing region.A high-level review meeting, led by the Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and attended by senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has greenlit the expansion project. Under the approved plan, the existing 12-metre-wide service roads will be doubled to 24 metres. The objective is to decongest the main carriageway, streamline local traffic, and build a more resilient road infrastructure capable of meeting long-term urban transport demands.
The detailed design and execution responsibility lie with NHAI, underscoring the collaboration between state and national agencies to improve urban roadways. This expansion is not merely a road-widening initiative—it signals a shift towards more sustainable and efficient transport planning in one of Maharashtra’s fastest urbanising belts.The PCMC Commissioner has instructed municipal teams to expedite the removal of encroachments along the corridor to ensure unhindered construction progress. The directive also emphasises the need for proper integration of civic utilities—such as sewerage, water pipelines, stormwater drains, and underground electricity networks—during the development process. This integrated approach is expected to minimise future digging and disruptions, promoting a more holistic and sustainable upgrade.
Stressing interdepartmental coordination, the Commissioner urged all civic wings to work in unison—particularly encroachment removal squads, licensing departments, and regional power supply offices. This unified effort is vital to supporting the NHAI’s project timeline and avoiding delays that have traditionally plagued large-scale infrastructure rollouts.According to senior PCMC officials, the widened service roads will act as dedicated corridors for intra-city traffic, thereby easing pressure on the main NH-48 stretch. This will enhance both local commutes and long-haul travel efficiency, significantly benefiting industrial logistics and residential mobility.
Given the region’s role as a manufacturing and commercial hub, the enhanced service roads are anticipated to contribute to economic efficiency while also aligning with environmental goals by reducing idling and congestion-induced emissions. In the broader vision of future-ready cities, such infrastructure projects offer not just operational efficiency but also ecological dividends.The move also supports the region’s ambition of becoming a model for sustainable urbanisation. Through integration of utility planning, encroachment management, and future-ready road design, Pimpri-Chinchwad is taking a tangible step towards building an equitable and efficient transport network—one that is geared not only for vehicles but also for the environmental and social well-being of its residents.
As the project gains momentum, all eyes will be on timely execution and the ability of agencies to coordinate without delay. The success of this initiative could well set the template for similar road infrastructure projects across India’s growing urban landscapes.
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