Pune: In an effort to combat Pune’s growing traffic congestion, Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar has issued directives for the immediate removal of 8 bottleneck areas and completing 14 missing links from the city’s road network.

The 100-day action plan, to be executed jointly by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Pune Police, and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), aims to alleviate congestion using quick, cost-effective measures.

A joint meeting between municipal and police officials is scheduled within the next two days to finalize the execution strategy. Additionally, the asphalting, widening, and removal of encroachments on 17 major roads will be undertaken, along with the completion of 15 model roads across the city.

Under its Development Plan (DP), the PMC had proposed several new road projects and widening efforts. However, incomplete roads have left many vital connections unbuilt, leading to severe traffic congestion. As part of the Missing Links Project, a detailed survey identified 30 missing links and 47 major bottleneck locations contributing to daily gridlocks.

According to officials, resolving these issues will require a budget of ₹500 crore. The PMC has already submitted a funding request to the state government but has yet to receive the necessary financial support.

During a District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting on Thursday (January 29), municipal and traffic police authorities presented a congestion-reduction report for Pune. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar assured that the state government would expedite fund allocation and emphasized immediate action on feasible road projects. He instructed officials to commence work on road improvements within 100 days.