Pune: PMC’s long-delayed “missing link” project may finally gain momentum, with the civic body announcing plans to complete 12 critical road stretches within a year.According to civic data, Pune has 459 km of missing road links. Out of a total of 678 identified links, the administration has prioritised 33 projects, of which only five have been completed to date.“The civic administration has finalised the road stretches to be developed as missing links. We are now focused on fast-tracking the completion process in the coming months,” said Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.The initiative to identify these gaps began in Aug 2022 with a survey conducted by a private agency. These links, located in both the old city and newly merged villages, were originally outlined in the city’s development plan (DP) and the regional plan (RP).The urgency of the project is underscored by the daily struggles of residents. “Traffic congestion can be significantly reduced if these missing links are finished. Currently, commuters are forced to take long detours because short, vital stretches remain incomplete. The administration must prioritise finishing these at the earliest,” said Gauri Kulkarni, a resident of Kothrud.Officials have identified 12 key stretches for completion within a year. These include key stretches such as the Baner-Pashan Link Road, Nagras Road in Aundh to Balewadi Stadium (via Jupiter Hospital), and the service road from Navale Bridge to Wakad. Other vital connections on the priority list are Ganraj Chowk to Kaspate Vasti, Rajaram Bridge to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk to Rosary School Underpass. Further, the development plan covers the routes from Hume Pipe to Prayeja City Road and Dhayari (via Kodre Farm), Lokmat Press to Savitri Garden, and Gunjan Chowk to Kalyaninagar. The remaining routes earmarked for completion are Kalyaninagar to Kharadi, Mundhwa ROB to Keshavnagar, and ABC Chowk to Gadigutta Chowk.PMC officials said the civic administration has partnered with private developers to advance pending road works. These developers will receive credit notes in exchange for the road projects they complete. Currently, 18 such road projects are in progress. According to civic officials, several private landowners have refused to hand over their land because they require cash compensation. However, the civic administration faces difficulty providing cash payments due to a shortage of funds. Consequently, the civic body has approached the state govt to request Rs517 crore to expedite these road works.
