In a significant move toward enhancing the city’s metro connectivity, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has put forth a proposal for a reserved five-meter-wide corridor within the Ring Road project. This initiative encompasses the construction of 10 metro stations, 17 flyovers, and three crucial railway overbridges. The Ring Road is anticipated to span 83.12 kilometers, with a width of 65 meters.
The decision to integrate the Ring Road into the Regional Development Plan was a strategic one made by PMRDA. Initially, the Ring Road was outlined to be a total of 123.97 kilometers in length, with a width of 90 meters. Simultaneously, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) proposed an expansion of the Ring Road to 110 meters. Nevertheless, both proposals exhibited an overlap of approximately 15 kilometers in specific villages.
To address this overlap issue, PMRDA opted to carve out a segment of roughly 38.34 kilometers from the MSRDC’s Ring Road plan in selected villages. Subsequently, this section was entrusted to MSRDC, effectively reducing the PMRDA’s Ring Road length to 83.12 kilometers.
The Ring Road project, an integral part of the 1987 Regional Development Plan, has faced various challenges during its construction. These hurdles pertain to obtaining necessary construction permits, resulting in complications in land acquisition and escalating project costs. Moreover, substantial opposition to the project has further compounded the situation. The government’s reluctance to allocate funds for the Ring Road project has added another layer of complexity to the endeavor.
