Pune’s Alandi Roads To Be Repaired Before Kartiki Ekadashi With ₹1 Crore Grant
In a decisive move to enhance civic readiness ahead of the Kartiki Ekadashi pilgrimage next month, Maharashtra’s deputy leadership has directed the Alandi Municipal Council to complete urgent road repairs across the temple town. The pilgrimage, which attracts lakhs of warkaris from across the state, is expected to test the town’s infrastructure as devotees throng to the revered Sant Dnyaneshwar temple.
An immediate grant of ₹1 crore has been sanctioned from the state’s urban development department to accelerate the pothole repair drive. Officials have been instructed to ensure time-bound completion of works, supported by photographic documentation to validate the repairs before the arrival of pilgrims.During a recent inspection visit, senior state authorities also reviewed progress on the Bhakta Nivas, a major public lodging project designed to accommodate devotees during the annual wari procession. With an earlier allocation of ₹20 crore, the project represents a key investment in sustainable pilgrim infrastructure, providing dignified and accessible lodging facilities while easing local housing pressure during peak religious seasons.
Alongside the road repairs, a string of beautification projects along the Indrayani ghat area has been inaugurated to enhance the visual and spiritual experience for visitors. Officials emphasised that these measures are part of a broader effort to balance religious tourism with sustainable urban growth, ensuring that the pilgrimage town retains its ecological and cultural sanctity.A comprehensive plan for cleaning the Indrayani River considered sacred in Maharashtra’s cultural tradition is also in motion. According to civic officials, a detailed project report is under preparation for the establishment of sewage treatment plants (STPs) along the river’s banks. These facilities will help reduce pollution and restore the river’s spiritual significance, enabling devotees to perform the holy dip without environmental concerns.
With Kartiki Ekadashi scheduled next month, the Alandi Municipal Council has committed to completing all civic and infrastructural work before the event. Engineers and civic planners are coordinating to ensure that damaged stretches are resurfaced, drains unclogged, and lighting improved before the start of the pilgrimage.Officials stressed that this drive is not merely about beautification but about creating a long-term, sustainable civic model for heritage towns like Alandi, where spirituality, ecology, and urban management intersect.As the temple town braces for the influx of pilgrims, the success of these initiatives will be seen as a litmus test of the government’s ability to deliver clean, safe, and inclusive infrastructure ensuring that faith and functionality travel together on Maharashtra’s roads to devotion.
