Pune Assures Katraj-Kondhwa Bypass by June 2026

18 Sep 2025 CW Team

Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has assured that the long-delayed Katraj–Kondhwa bypass road will be completed by June 2026. Speaking at a real estate conclave on 11 September alongside district collector Jeetendra Dudi, he said the project now has a clear, integrated, and systematic plan in place.

“This is my final promise as the Katraj–Kondhwa bypass road project will be completed by the end of June 2026. The issue was never impossible; it just needed the right decision at the right level,” Ram said. He stressed that while funds are available, what is crucial is vision, direction, and citizen support.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently sanctioned Rs 2.7 billion for land acquisition to widen the road to 50 metres, reallocating Rs 2.2 billion from other departments. The decision was cleared by the standing committee on 12 September. Originally planned at 84 metres wide, the road was scaled down to 50 metres to reduce costs and speed up execution.

Launched in 2017, the project has faced major delays due to land acquisition, with less than 50 per cent progress achieved over the past eight years. Of the required 9.45 million sq. ft. of land, only about 46,456 sq. ft. has been secured. While some landowners prefer direct monetary compensation, transferable development rights (TDR) are gaining popularity in several locations.

Construction is ongoing where land is available, including a grade separator to ease traffic movement. To tackle frequent waterlogging, especially near Rajas Society and outside the State Bank of India branch, PMC will install two 300 mm rainwater drainage lines.

The bypass is expected to ease congestion significantly once complete. The state government had initially sanctioned Rs 1.4 billion, while PMC proposed an additional Rs 2 billion. However, with delays persisting, the corporation chose to independently fund Rs 4.8 billion for land acquisition.

Infrastructure Energy

17 Nov 2025

NTPC Plans Coal Gas Push And Expands Nuclear Pipeline

State-owned power producer NTPC Ltd is preparing to enter the coal gasification segment, targeting annual output of at least 5–10 million tonnes within the next three to four years, according to a senior company official. The cost of producing synthetic gas is projected at roughly USD 10–12 per million British thermal units. NTPC expects the pricing of its gas to remain competitive with the delivered cost of liquefied natural gas and anticipates no difficulty in securing buyers. The output will either be supplied to the domestic market or used in the company’s own facilities, with NTPC ..

SECL Launches Coal India’s First Paste Filling Project

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has marked a major step towards safer and more sustainable underground mining with the groundbreaking of Coal India’s first Paste Filling Technology project at the Singhali Underground Mine in the DSB Sub-Area of the Korba Area. The initiative, guided by SECL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Shri Harish Duhan, represents a pioneering move towards environmentally responsible underground mining. The Bhoomi Pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) was carried out with enthusiasm in the presence of senior SECL officials and employees. Shri Ramesh Chandra Mohapatra,..

Odisha Plans New Rail Corridors To Boost Logistics

Odisha is strengthening its logistics network as part of its port-led industrialisation strategy and is considering new railway corridors under the public–private partnership model to drive economic growth across the hinterland. Official sources said a new rail corridor has been proposed for the Talcher coalfields at an estimated cost of Rs 48.82 billion, along with the Gopalpur–Rayagada–Jeypore economic corridor, which will include both road and rail connectivity. Additional port-linked rail corridors are also being planned in various regions. A recent high-level meeting chaired by Ch..