The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has fast-tracked the inner ring road project and proposed acquiring 115 hectares in 13 villages. Land acquisition will begin soon for the crucial stretch — Pune district’s second ring road after the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited’s (MSRDC) outer ring road. The 83-km inner ring road project is expected to cost around ?14,200 crore. The district collector’s office having completed a joint survey will proceed with land valuation. Officials stated that villagers have agreed to give up land for the project. The plan will require 743.41 hectares from 44 villages in Khed, Haveli, Mulshi, and Maval talukas. The inner ring road, spanning 83 km, will connect Pune-Satara Road with Ahmednagar Road and include 42 connecting roads, 17 bridges, and 10 tunnels. A 5-metre-wide space will be reserved for metro tracks. The first phase, from Solu to Wadgaon Shinde, aims to ease congestion on Ahmednagar Road. The second ring road will cover around 1,301 survey numbers across 44 villages. PMRDA’s ring road will connect MSRDC’s outer circular ring road at Solu village. To support it, PMRDA has begun acquiring land for a 6.5-km stretch from Alandi to Wagholi on Ahmednagar Road. Proposals for acquiring 115 hectares in 13 villages have been submitted to the district collector. A 5.7-km section of the inner ring road falls within Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits and passes through Lohegaon. As per the agreement, PMC will develop the stretch and later transfer it to PMRDA. The 65-metre-wide road will connect Pune to Pimpri-Chinchwad via Lohegaon and will be built under a public-private partnership (PPP). Proposed in 2016, the ring road project aims to reduce traffic congestion in Pune’s core areas and improve connectivity for suburban development. PMRDA will purchase land in villages directly at market rates. Once the land measurement is completed, the valuation committee will determine the acquisition rates.