Kolkata: Authorities have proposed the construction of a new four-lane underground corridor in Pune to address the traffic congestion in the city’s central areas, a long-standing issue for the general public. The proposal includes two routes, Sarasbaug to Shaniwarwada and Shaniwarwada (Kakasaheb Gadgil statue) to Swargate.
Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, visited Pune on June 23. He went to the Kakasaheb Gadgil statue and the Shaniwarwada’s main entrance. There, Hemant Rasane, the MLA of Kasba constituency submitted to Gadkari a proposal about the project and requested funding from the Centre. The event was also attended by Chandrakant Patil, Minister of Higher and Technical Education of Maharashtra.
The entire project would cost around Rs 550 crore, and according to Rasane, “The Shivaji Road and Bajirao Road are two critical arteries of Pune city. These roads are surrounded by historical landmarks, religious places, schools, colleges, and major commercial markets, resulting in the movement of lakhs of vehicles daily. Consequently, severe traffic congestion is a recurring problem in these areas.”
He added, “Since both these roads serve as crucial north-south links, they are also likely to function as key elements in a future ‘link corridor’. Therefore, to enhance traffic flow and conserve the city’s historical legacy, the four-lane underground corridor project has been initiated.” The tunnels would serve as alternative routes to the heavily congested Shivaji Road and Bajirao Road. At present, Shivaji Road handles the traffic from Shaniwarwada to Swargate, with Bajirao Road handling the return flow.
These routes are part of the National Highway 4, and Gadkari is reportedly interested in the project. As per reports, he has given an assurance about a meeting shortly to discuss the project’s future. The Union Minister said, “As per the instructions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a detailed project report by the public works department is in its final stages. A funding proposal has already been sent to the state’s finance department. Additionally, since the project aligns with the national highway network, support from the central government has also been sought.”
The length of each of those tunnels will be around 2.5 km and they will be located at around 30 feet below the surface. The project, expected to be a massive one, will reportedly receive funding from both the Centre and the state government. Notably, Gadkari had to shorten his visit to Pune after police advised him to keep the city’s traffic congestion in mind. The ANI reported that the visit was cancelled after Gadkari got stuck in the city traffic.
