Pune: Ujjwal Keskar, former opposition leader in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), has raised serious concerns regarding the authority of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in the ongoing Balbharati-Paud Phata road issue.

Keskar claims that while the CEC conducted an on-site inspection and interacted with key stakeholders, it lacks the authority to submit its findings to the Supreme Court.

The Balbharati-Paud Phata road project has been under scrutiny, with a petition prompting a one-member CEC committee to visit the site in April 2024. The committee engaged with petitioners and municipal officials and is set to present an objective report to the Supreme Court. However, Keskar has challenged the validity of this move.

The controversy surrounding the Balbharati-Paud Phata road continues, with Keskar's statements adding another layer of complexity to the legal and administrative proceedings.

According to Keskar, "All procedures related to this road project have been conducted in accordance with the law. The municipal corporation prepared a report following the High Court's directive, and the report was not stayed by the High Court. Consequently, some organizations approached the CEC. Nevertheless, the court has clarified that this committee operates under the Ministry of Environment, and therefore, it does not have the authority to submit a report to the Supreme Court. This is a misleading action."

Keskar has also thanked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar for approving the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR), of which a part is aligned with the Balbharati-Paud Phata road. Keskar had demanded that PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale should immediately start work on the HCMTR and BBPP road project.

Keskar believes that BBPP is the lifeline of four assembly constituencies including Kothrud and Shivajinagar. Both these projects will boost public transport in Pune city, believes Keskar.