Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) prioritizes key arterial road projects in its 2026-27 draft budget to alleviate severe traffic congestion. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram unveiled the plan on Monday, boosting road and transport funding to Rs 1,800 crore—a Rs 500 crore jump from previous budgets. Emphasis lies on finishing missing links and accelerating land acquisition for better connectivity.
Shivane-Kharadi and Katraj-Kondhwa Road Upgrades Aimed at Decongesting Pune
Top priority is the 22.5-km Shivane-Kharadi riverside road, a vital east-west artery to decongest Pune-Nagar Road. Split into Shivane-Mhatre Bridge (6 km), Mhatre Bridge-Sangamwadi (5 km), and Sangamwadi-Kharadi (11.5 km), substantial sections are done but disconnected. Rs 50 crore funds the pivotal 600-metre Karvenagar stretch via transferable development rights (TDR) and cash. Ram highlighted that incomplete patches, such as the 24-metre-wide 7-km Shivane-Mhatre segment—including Rajaram to Mhatre Bridge—remain ineffective without seamless ties.
Progress accelerates on Katraj-Kondhwa road widening, targeting a 3.5-km bypass plagued by delays. To cut costs and speed up, width narrows from 84 metres to 50 metres. Rs 470 crore allocated directly to the district collector’s office clears major hurdles. Ram mandates mid-2026 completion for this high-accident route.
Ganeskhind Phase Three Upgrades Road Connectivity for Pune Residents
Phase three of Ganeskhind road advances too: road widening from RBI Bank to Sancheti Hospital; new service road along Mumbai-Bangalore bypass from Wakad to Katraj; Navale Bridge enhancements; and a connector from Balbharati to Paud Phata. These initiatives promise smoother traffic flow, enhanced safety, and economic boosts for Pune residents.
Summary:
Pune Municipal Corporation has raised its 2026-27 road and transport budget to Rs 1,800 crore to ease congestion by finishing missing links and speeding up land acquisition. The 22.5‑km Shivane‑Kharadi riverside road and 3.5‑km Katraj‑Kondhwa bypass are key priorities, with targeted funds and design changes to accelerate completion by mid‑2026.
