In a proactive move to alleviate persistent traffic congestion issues, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is actively pursuing the acquisition of 1.4 acres of defence land to widen two crucial railway underpasses in Khadki Range Hills. These underpasses have become daily bottlenecks, impacting both the old Pune-Mumbai highway and Range Hills within the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) limits. The PMC’s intervention comes after a joint survey last year, and the project is contingent upon securing defence land at no cost.
Despite being within the purview of the KCB, budget constraints prompted the PMC to intervene, according to civic officials. Assessing the feasibility of the project is crucial, and special permissions from railway authorities are required due to the presence of a natural stream that needs strategic channeling. Traffic diversion plans and final approval during the PMC’s general body meeting are also part of the process.
Abhijit Ambekar, executive engineer at PMC, confirmed the land demand and emphasized that a conclusive decision on the project is pending. Robin Baleja, CEO of KCB, suggested exploring the option of obtaining land on license for a specific period, eliminating the need for payment.
While the Defence Estates Office, Pune circle, has received a formal request, detailed project information is awaited. The existing British-era underpasses, designed decades ago, were not equipped to handle the current high volume of traffic, leading to intensified congestion over the years. The proposed widening project aims to address this issue and enhance traffic flow in the region.
