Pune: Civic Body Initiates Land Acquisition for Katraj-Kondhwa Road

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has commenced land acquisition for the long-pending Katraj-Kondhwa Road, following a significant funding boost from the State government. The project, initially launched in 2018 under the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, faced numerous delays primarily due to land acquisition issues.

Last week, the State government allocated ₹139 crore to the PMC, enabling the civic authorities to expedite the acquisition process. The Katraj-Kondhwa Road is a crucial arterial route connecting Satara Road to Solapur Road, currently plagued by severe traffic congestion due to its narrow 15 to 20-metre width along a 3.5 km stretch from Kondhwa to Katraj junction through Khadi Machine Chowk.

A PMC official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the project was stalled due to land acquisition challenges, with landowners demanding cash compensation. The State government agreed to cover the steep acquisition costs, exceeding ₹140 crore.

BJP leader Yogesh Tilekar, who has been advocating for the project, highlighted the prolonged struggle to secure funds. He noted that while the State government approved the necessary funds before the Lok Sabha elections, the release was delayed due to the model code of conduct. Efforts by Deputy Chief Ministers Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were instrumental in securing the funding, including site visits to the project area.

Originally, the PMC had contracted a company in December 2018 to widen the road to 84 metres, with a project cost of ₹215 crore, including GST, and a completion deadline of December 2021. However, due to financial constraints, the PMC later revised the width reduction to 50 metres to alleviate budgetary pressures.