The Pune Municipal Corporation has commenced Phase 2 of the Ganeshkhind Road widening between RBI and Sancheti Hospital, targeting smoother traffic flow and integration with the Metro Line 3 project. The two-kilometre stretch faces delays due to pending land acquisition from 40 properties, as only 12 have handed over land so far, impacting project timelines and coordination.
This arterial stretch, part of the city’s high-density core, serves as a crucial connector between Pune University, Shivajinagar, and the Pune railway station. As vehicular pressure intensifies and urban infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the city’s rapid growth, the second phase of the road widening comes at a pivotal time. Officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reiterated that the project is not only about road expansion but also about synchronising with the larger urban mobility ecosystem — most notably the Pune Metro Line 3. The first phase of the Ganeshkhind Road upgrade, covering the stretch from Pune University Chowk to RBI, had been completed earlier in collaboration with the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). This section laid the groundwork for the ongoing double-decker flyover that accommodates both road traffic and the elevated metro line. According to civic officials, the success of that phase has paved the way for an intensified push on the second leg of the corridor.
The second phase spans around two kilometres and has an estimated civil execution cost of ₹58 crore. However, this figure does not account for land acquisition expenses, which are being calculated separately depending on the compensation and ownership models in play. Officials from PMC’s land and estate department confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with private and institutional stakeholders to speed up the handover process. A total of 52 properties are impacted by this stretch, and the civic body has so far managed to secure land from only 12. Among the remaining properties are government facilities, commercial plots, and educational institutes — all of which are being approached under urgency to avoid further delays. Experts from PMC’s urban development cell said that delays in acquisition could risk affecting the alignment schedule of the Metro Line 3. With structural work already underway, coordination between the flyover’s concrete spans and widened road lanes is essential for seamless mobility. The double-decker design — with one tier for vehicular movement and another for the metro — represents a first-of-its-kind integrated mobility solution in the region. Ensuring that the road beneath aligns with metro engineering standards is crucial for long-term success.
Urban planners and mobility experts have noted that Pune’s existing arterial network suffers from fragmented development, often driven by piecemeal land availability or legacy right-of-way issues. Ganeshkhind Road, however, presents a unique opportunity to model a truly multimodal transit spine that can be scaled across other urban pockets. Officials added that the corridor, once completed, will cater not only to current congestion challenges but also future-proof the city’s infrastructure capacity. Residents and commuters who frequent the RBI to Sancheti stretch have long complained about bottlenecks and erratic lane discipline, especially during peak hours. With increasing two-wheeler and cab-based commute volumes, the road often witnesses spillovers onto footpaths and service lanes, compromising pedestrian safety. Local transport groups have welcomed the project but urged PMC to ensure that the design includes provisions for cycling lanes and shaded walkways, in line with sustainable urban mobility goals.
In response, a senior official in PMC’s road department confirmed that sustainable and inclusive design elements were being integrated into the plan. “The project is not just a matter of expanding width but also about enhancing safety, accessibility, and multimodal use,” the official stated. The PMC has also assured that tree cover along the stretch will be retained as much as possible, and any compensatory plantation will follow the 1:3 ratio mandated under the civic tree policy. Moreover, the PMC is aligning the Ganeshkhind Road widening with broader climate-responsive strategies. The corridor is expected to improve average travel time, reduce vehicular idling, and thereby cut down on carbon emissions — critical for a city like Pune that is increasingly grappling with air quality concerns and a rising urban heat island effect.
The project is being monitored under a joint coordination committee consisting of PMC, PMRDA, MahaMetro, and traffic police officials to ensure that metro construction, traffic flow, and civil works progress concurrently. Timelines are being reviewed fortnightly, especially given the monsoon season ahead, which could introduce further delays if groundwork and drainage realignment are not completed on time. For citizens, the ultimate payoff lies in improved commute times, safer pedestrian movement, and enhanced access to metro infrastructure. For city administrators, it’s a test case for executing large-scale, multimodal infrastructure in built-up urban zones — balancing development needs with equitable access and sustainability.
While the challenges of land acquisition and traffic rerouting persist, the civic body remains optimistic that the cooperation of stakeholders and timely decision-making will allow for a smooth transition into the final stages of the project. As work progresses, Ganeshkhind Road is poised to become a model for how Indian cities can reimagine congested corridors into resilient, future-ready mobility axes.
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