PMC chief orders faster road widening on routes to Pune airport after site inspection

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram on Tuesday directed officials to speed up road-widening work on the main roads leading to Pune airport so that traffic improves. He also asked them to complete the anti-encroachment and land acquisition processes quickly.

The commissioner inspected ongoing works at Viman Nagar, Symbiosis Road, Nagpur Chawl, 509 Chowk and North Main Road. He directed officials to complete stalled projects at the earliest.

In Viman Nagar, Ram visited VVIP Road, Symbiosis Road and Shubh Chowk. It was found that handcarts, hawkers and other encroachments along the roadside could obstruct traffic. He therefore asked the departments concerned to identify such spots and keep up regular action against encroachment so that crowding does not occur.

The commissioner also inspected Symbiosis Road, which links the Ramwadi underpass to Pune airport. Officials were directed to widen this road to 30 metres as per the sanctioned Development Plan (DP).

The widening work under way on the route to the airport via Nagpur Chawl, the Jail Road police chowky, 509 Chowk and Wakad Chowk was also reviewed. A proposed road from 509 Chowk through Air Force land to Dhanori Main Road was discussed as well. To speed up this project, Ram said a meeting should be held with representatives of the Air Force Station, Lohegaon.

On North Main Road, he asked officials of the roads department to complete the ongoing work as soon as possible.

A 30-metre-wide road is planned under Section 205 near Aero Mall in the airport area. The commissioner told the departments concerned to complete land acquisition for this road on priority.

The aim of the inspection was to speed up infrastructure projects and improve access to Pune airport. The PMC administration has been told to coordinate with the departments concerned and accelerate road widening, removal of encroachments and other development work so that traffic moves smoothly.

Additional Commissioners Prajeet Nair and Omprakash Divate, Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner Tushar Babar, Chief Engineer (Roads) Rajesh Banker, Deputy Commissioner (Encroachment) Somnath Banker and Assistant Commissioner Sanjay Pol were present during the inspection. Officials of the roads department, the building development department and the Nagar Road-Wagholi ward office also accompanied them.