Pune Municipal Commissioner says the proposed Yerwada–Katraj tunnel project is not feasible due to high costs.
Initial DPR by PMRDA’s agency estimates around ₹7,500 crore for a 20 km, six-lane twin tunnel.
The project is effectively shelved at the municipal level after discussions in the PUMTA meeting.
Pune, 1st October 2025: Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has confirmed that the proposed Yerwada to Katraj tunnel project, aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city, is not feasible and too expensive to execute.
The project, planned by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), was intended to connect the northern and southern parts of Pune through a 20-kilometer tunnel. Initially, PMRDA proposed the tunnel with an estimated budget of ₹4,503 crore and appointed the agency 'Monarch' to prepare a detailed project report (DPR).
The DPR suggested constructing twin six-lane tunnels spanning 18–20 kilometers, which would require approximately ₹7,500 crore. Municipal officials noted that the expected cost far outweighs the benefits, given the traffic volume expected to use this route.
During a recent meeting of the Pune Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (PUMTA), the report and its preliminary findings were discussed. Commissioner Ram stated that executing this project is not possible for the municipal corporation due to its high cost and limited practicality.
As a result, the plan for the Yerwada–Katraj tunnel has effectively been shelved at the municipal level, marking a significant halt to one of Pune’s ambitious traffic decongestion initiatives.