Pune sets Nov 20 deadline to measure private land for HCMTR and Inner Ring Road

The land needed for two major road projects meant to ease traffic congestion in Pune is back in focus. The Pune Municipal Corporation and the district administration have set 20 November as the last date for completing the measurement of private plots required for these projects.

The High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) and the Pune Inner Ring Road were the main issues at the meeting, which was a joint review by Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and District Collector Jitendra Dudi. Officials asked for the land acquisition process to be speeded up. They said the projects could stall if there were delays in identifying and measuring the required properties.

The administration has been told to clear first the surveys still pending along the HCMTR route. It has also been told to take steps to acquire the private land needed for both projects without further delay. Officials have also been directed to remove the technical and administrative hurdles slowing the process. The timetable is not to be allowed to slip because of unresolved issues.

The meeting also discussed preparations for the Pune Grand Tour cycling competition. As part of this, infrastructure work under way in Pune city and the district was reviewed. Projects linked to the event are currently being executed in four packages, which cover different sections and locations.

Officials have asked the teams concerned to identify incomplete works and speed up work so that the rest is finished within the stipulated time. The meeting thus placed two immediate priorities of the administration side by side: advancing land acquisition for long-term road infrastructure, and ensuring that preparations for the cycling competition do not fall behind.