The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken significant steps to address the city’s persistent traffic issues by proposing the development of missing link roads. This initiative aims to enhance connectivity and ease traffic congestion in Pune. To facilitate this, the PMC has requested a ₹100-crore allocation from the state government for land acquisition purposes.
Background and Proposal
Last week, during an inspection of Vidyapeeth Chowk, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar emphasized the need to address the problem of missing link roads. He directed officials to draft a comprehensive proposal and submit it to the state government for approval. Acting on these instructions, the PMC Road Department has formally sent a request for ₹100 crore in funding to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance (Planning) Department.
Prioritizing Connectivity
Nikhil Mijar, a traffic planner for the PMC, outlined the civic body’s strategy for addressing the issue. He stated that the focus is on connecting roads obstructed by varying distances, categorized into segments of 1-100 meters, 100-500 meters, 500-1,000 meters, and beyond. In the initial phase, the PMC plans to connect 33 missing links. Currently, 14 links have been acquired, and three have already been connected, with ongoing work on the remaining links. The primary objective is to address five major missing links in this phase, and the requested ₹100 crore will be crucial for land acquisition, as most landowners have insisted on cash compensation.
The Challenge of Land Acquisition
One of the primary challenges in addressing the missing link roads has been land acquisition. Over 400 missing road links have been identified across Pune, but progress has been hindered due to delays in acquiring the necessary land. The PMC’s request for state funding underscores the urgency and importance of resolving these issues to improve the city’s infrastructure and traffic flow.
