Pimpri-Chinchwad is set for a major urban infrastructure boost as the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) collaborate to widen service roads along National Highway 48 within the city limits.A recent high-level review meeting, chaired by PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh and attended by senior NHAI officials, was held to fast-track the project aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving vehicular flow in the industrial city.At present, the NH-48 service roads are 12 metres wide. The approved plan will double their width to 24 metres, which is expected to significantly reduce congestion on the main carriageway and enhance overall traffic efficiency across Pimpri-Chinchwad. The detailed design has been prepared by NHAI, which will also execute the construction.Commissioner Singh instructed officials to ensure the swift removal of encroachments—such as hoardings, unauthorised stalls, and other obstructions—along the expansion corridor. He also emphasised the importance of integrating underground utilities like sewerage, water supply, drainage, and electricity lines into the road upgrade, to avoid future disruption and ensure sustainable development.“The work must be carried out within a defined timeframe, with full coordination between all departments,” Singh stated. He called for close cooperation among encroachment removal squads, drainage and water supply teams, licensing authorities, power companies, and regional offices to support NHAI and ensure the timely delivery of this critical project.PCMC Additional Commissioner Pradip Jambhale Patil added, “Widening these service roads will reduce pressure on the main highway, improve traffic flow, and make local travel safer and more efficient.”The upgraded service lanes will provide dedicated routes for local traffic, enabling smoother long-distance travel on the main highway and strengthening the city’s transportation framework. This initiative marks a significant step towards creating a more sustainable, organised, and future-ready mobility system for the Pimpri-Chinchwad metropolitan area.Image source: pune mirror