PMC To Seek Green Nod For Rs 1.6 Billion Balbharati Link Road

24 Oct 2025 CW Team

The PMC also intends to appoint a consultant to prepare and submit the necessary documentation for environmental approval. City Engineer Prashant Waghmare said the civic administration will prioritise full compliance with the court’s order to ensure the project can begin without further delay.

“We carried out a site inspection and discussed how to proceed following the Supreme Court’s directions. The PMC will appoint a consultant to secure approval from the environment department and aims to obtain it within two months,” Waghmare said.

An official, requesting anonymity, added that preparatory work is being fast-tracked. “There is now a clear go-ahead from the court, provided environmental norms are met. Once the clearance is received, we will immediately begin execution,” the official noted.

Originally proposed in 1987, the 2.1-kilometre Balbharati–Paud Phata Link Road project has faced decades of delays due to recurring legal disputes and opposition from environmental groups. The planned alignment passes through an ecologically sensitive portion of the Indian Law Society (ILS) Hill, linking Paud Phata to Balbharati on Law College Road.

On Wednesday, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai directed the PMC not to begin construction until environmental clearance is obtained. The court also instructed the state’s Environmental Impact Assessment Authority to decide on the proposal within three months.

Valued at Rs 1.6 billion, the project is expected to ease traffic congestion on major arterial routes such as Law College Road, Fergusson College Road, and Karve Road once completed.

However, environmental activists continue to oppose the project, arguing that construction on ILS Hill could harm the city’s green cover and disrupt groundwater recharge in the surrounding areas.

A day after the Supreme Court directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to obtain environmental clearance before proceeding with the proposed Balbharati–Paud Phata Link Road, civic officials announced plans to visit the project site on Friday to chart the next steps. The PMC also intends to appoint a consultant to prepare and submit the necessary documentation for environmental approval. City Engineer Prashant Waghmare said the civic administration will prioritise full compliance with the court’s order to ensure the project can begin without further delay. “We carried out a site inspection and discussed how to proceed following the Supreme Court’s directions. The PMC will appoint a consultant to secure approval from the environment department and aims to obtain it within two months,” Waghmare said. An official, requesting anonymity, added that preparatory work is being fast-tracked. “There is now a clear go-ahead from the court, provided environmental norms are met. Once the clearance is received, we will immediately begin execution,” the official noted. Originally proposed in 1987, the 2.1-kilometre Balbharati–Paud Phata Link Road project has faced decades of delays due to recurring legal disputes and opposition from environmental groups. The planned alignment passes through an ecologically sensitive portion of the Indian Law Society (ILS) Hill, linking Paud Phata to Balbharati on Law College Road. On Wednesday, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai directed the PMC not to begin construction until environmental clearance is obtained. The court also instructed the state’s Environmental Impact Assessment Authority to decide on the proposal within three months. Valued at Rs 1.6 billion, the project is expected to ease traffic congestion on major arterial routes such as Law College Road, Fergusson College Road, and Karve Road once completed. However, environmental activists continue to oppose the project, arguing that construction on ILS Hill could harm the city’s green cover and disrupt groundwater recharge in the surrounding areas.

Real Estate

08 May 2026

Integrated Waterproofing Strategies

Waterproofing buildings used to be an annual pre-monsoon affair but the evolution of real-estate development has changed that approach. In new developments, developers are weaving waterproofing solutions into both the design and construction phases, an approach that Nikhil Madan, Managing Director, Mahima Group, says, “is all about ensuring lasting durability [of the building] and keeping lifecycle risks including water seepage and extensive maintenance to a minimum.”Watertight by designAluminium formwork systems aren’t commonly thought of as a waterproofing tool but at the Mahima Group,..

Infrastructure Urban

08 May 2026

GROHE Showcases Water-Led Design At Milan

GROHE unveiled its GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary at Milan Design Week 2026, transforming Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato into an immersive showcase of water, design and wellbeing. Built on the philosophy of ‘Wellbeing Through Water’, the installation reimagined bathrooms as holistic spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.The Aqua Sanctuary was presented through three interconnected sanctums. The first showcased the 3D-printed GROHE SPA AquaTree shower and faucet, highlighting bespoke innovation and biophilic design. The second featured the Atrio Private Collection and GROHE SPA x Buster..

Infrastructure Transport

08 May 2026

Rahee Group Expands Rail Manufacturing Capacity

Rahee Group has outlined a multi-year investment roadmap to expand its operational footprint and strengthen manufacturing capabilities for India’s growing railway and urban transit sector. The Group is expanding in Odisha with a new Track Component Casting Unit, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 April 2026 in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.The Group’s flagship EPC arm, Rahee Infratech Ltd, continues to focus on complex rail infrastructure projects, including track systems, bridges, viaducts and ballastless infrastructure. Its wholly owned subsidi..