Pune: In a significant move to tackle the persistent traffic congestion in Chakan and surrounding areas, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting in Mumbai, focusing on the Chakan-Talegaon-Shikrapur and Pune-Nashik highways. He instructed officials to remove encroachments and widen the roads to alleviate the traffic issues.

Pawar, along with MLA Dilip Mohite and senior officials from various departments, discussed the dire situation of traffic and road conditions in the Chakan industrial area. NHAI officials highlighted the severe waterlogging issues and local resistance to land acquisition for drainage, which has stalled progress despite available funds.

The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized the urgency of removing encroachments and instructed the necessary departments to take immediate action. He also directed the expansion of the Pune-Nashik highway into a six-lane road to ease traffic flow.

To further address the issue, a budget of 179 crore rupees has been allocated for new road projects in Chakan. Additionally, MIDC will provide four acres of land for waste management in 17 surrounding villages, and truck terminals will be established to prevent heavy vehicles from causing congestion on the roads.

MLA Dilip Mohite stated, "The central government was supposed to undertake the work on the Chakan-Talegaon-Shikrapur road. However, the central government proposed that the state government take over this road, which we oppose. The Deputy Chief Minister also opposed this proposal.

The central government should immediately undertake the work on this road. The District Collector and the Commissioner of Police of Pimpri Chinchwad have been instructed to inspect and address the traffic congestion issue in the Chakan area, especially in Talegaon Chowk."