Pune’s Elevated Road Project Delayed, Worsening Traffic
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Pune’s Elevated Road Project Delayed, Worsening Traffic

Pune, known for its growing IT and educational sectors, is struggling with severe traffic congestion, particularly around the rapidly expanding Hinjawadi IT Park. The long-awaited solution to this issue, the ?2,600 crore Ravet-Narhe elevated road project, has encountered an unexpected roadblock. Despite the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) submitting the detailed project report (DPR), the central government has yet to approve the plan, pushing the project’s timeline back by at least another year.

The 24-kilometre elevated road, featuring six lanes, will span key areas such as Wakad, Tathawade, Punawale, Ravet, Balewadi, Baner, Sus, and Bavdhan, helping alleviate congestion on the heavily trafficked Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway. The total project cost, estimated at Rs 26 billion, includes Rs 6 billion earmarked for service roads. However, the delay in securing clearance from the Finance Ministry committee has stalled its progress.

The delay has raised concerns among residents and IT professionals working in Hinjawadi, where daily traffic bottlenecks make commuting a challenge during peak hours. Once approved, the project will be executed in three phases: Ravet to Balewadi, Balewadi to Warje, and Warje to Narhe. NHAI officials are hopeful that with central clearance, the project will proceed swiftly to the tendering phase and construction.

While the elevated road promises to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times, the delay highlights a larger issue—Pune’s strained infrastructure. Rapid urbanization has outpaced the growth of the city’s transportation network, leading to severe congestion. As infrastructure projects like this elevated road advance, it is vital to prioritize sustainable development practices. Addressing rising pollution and unsustainable commuting patterns should be integral to urban planning, with a focus on eco-friendly transportation options like electric vehicles (EVs) and expanding green spaces along major roads to reduce the carbon footprint.

The delays in this project underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach to urban planning. Alongside road infrastructure improvements, greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing public transportation systems and promoting multi-modal travel. A sustainable urban development strategy is essential to mitigating not only traffic issues but also the environmental impacts of rapid urbanization.

Pune’s struggle is a reflection of the broader challenges faced by rapidly expanding cities across India. Moving forward, it will be crucial for planners and policymakers to balance infrastructure growth with long-term sustainability to ensure a healthier, more efficient urban environment.

Pune, known for its growing IT and educational sectors, is struggling with severe traffic congestion, particularly around the rapidly expanding Hinjawadi IT Park. The long-awaited solution to this issue, the ?2,600 crore Ravet-Narhe elevated road project, has encountered an unexpected roadblock. Despite the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) submitting the detailed project report (DPR), the central government has yet to approve the plan, pushing the project’s timeline back by at least another year. The 24-kilometre elevated road, featuring six lanes, will span key areas such as Wakad, Tathawade, Punawale, Ravet, Balewadi, Baner, Sus, and Bavdhan, helping alleviate congestion on the heavily trafficked Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway. The total project cost, estimated at Rs 26 billion, includes Rs 6 billion earmarked for service roads. However, the delay in securing clearance from the Finance Ministry committee has stalled its progress. The delay has raised concerns among residents and IT professionals working in Hinjawadi, where daily traffic bottlenecks make commuting a challenge during peak hours. Once approved, the project will be executed in three phases: Ravet to Balewadi, Balewadi to Warje, and Warje to Narhe. NHAI officials are hopeful that with central clearance, the project will proceed swiftly to the tendering phase and construction. While the elevated road promises to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times, the delay highlights a larger issue—Pune’s strained infrastructure. Rapid urbanization has outpaced the growth of the city’s transportation network, leading to severe congestion. As infrastructure projects like this elevated road advance, it is vital to prioritize sustainable development practices. Addressing rising pollution and unsustainable commuting patterns should be integral to urban planning, with a focus on eco-friendly transportation options like electric vehicles (EVs) and expanding green spaces along major roads to reduce the carbon footprint. The delays in this project underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach to urban planning. Alongside road infrastructure improvements, greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing public transportation systems and promoting multi-modal travel. A sustainable urban development strategy is essential to mitigating not only traffic issues but also the environmental impacts of rapid urbanization. Pune’s struggle is a reflection of the broader challenges faced by rapidly expanding cities across India. Moving forward, it will be crucial for planners and policymakers to balance infrastructure growth with long-term sustainability to ensure a healthier, more efficient urban environment.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

NHAI to Upgrade Tamil Nadu Highways

To reduce congestion on key national highways in Tamil Nadu, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planned capacity upgrades for at least eight highway stretches. The improvements will include bypasses, flyovers, and four-laning in Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, and Cuddalore. NHAI has invited tenders to appoint consultants for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) on these expansions. The affected highways include NH-181, NH-81, NH-532, NH-85, and NH-136. Proposed Upgrades Across Highways - NH-181 (Coimbatore-Gundlupet Route): This stretch will see four bypasses an..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Ludhiana-Bathinda Highway Revived as NHAI Invites Bids

The Ludhiana-Bathinda highway project, initially stalled due to land acquisition issues, has been revived as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) invites fresh bids to resume construction. The project, part of the Ludhiana-Ajmer Economic Corridor, is estimated to cost Rs 24.61 billion and will be executed in two phases. Package 1, covering 30.03 km, has a budget of Rs 9.06 billion, while Package 2, spanning 45.25 km, is set to cost Rs 15.55 billion. The NHAI had previously withdrawn the project due to unavailability of land. However, intervention from Union Minister for Road Trans..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Dilip Buildcon Wins Rs 460M Arbitration

Infrastructure major Dilip Buildcon has secured an arbitration award of Rs 460 million against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over delays and breaches during the execution of a highway project in Karnataka. The dispute pertains to the Rehabilitation and Upgradation of the Kerala Border to Kollegala Section of NH 212, awarded to Dilip Buildcon under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) agreement dated June 6, 2014. The project involved two-lane expansion with paved shoulders and four-lane development under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?