Pune: The much-anticipated corridor connecting Mahatma Phule Wada and Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Memorial has received final approval from the state government, paving the way for its development.

Following this decision, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also sanctioned the land acquisition process and approved a budget of ₹40 crore for the purpose. The project is now set to move forward at an accelerated pace.

Discussions regarding the integrated development of Mahatma Phule Wada and Savitribai Phule Memorial had been ongoing for several years. However, in the past few months, the state government and PMC have actively initiated the necessary steps.

A comprehensive survey was conducted to determine the extent of land acquisition required and assess the number of families affected. Last week, Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde convened a meeting to finalize the project, granting approval for the expansion work. As part of the plan, land will be acquired, and affected residents will be rehabilitated.

A road will be constructed to connect the two memorials, and efforts will be made to preserve and develop both sites. The state government has earmarked ₹200 crore for the project, which will be transferred to the municipal corporation after completing the required administrative procedures.

The municipal corporation will need to acquire a total of 5,310 square meters of land, impacting 91 properties. This includes 516 property owners and 285 tenants. To facilitate this, the municipal administration had presented a proposal for land acquisition, which was approved in a recent Standing Committee meeting. With this approval, the expansion process is expected to progress rapidly.