Pune: Sinhagad Road is a narrow and highly congested road. It doesn’t have an alternative road. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) tried to construct a riverside road but it couldn’t take off as environmentalists objected. Now, the civic body is hoping to provide relief to two-wheeler commuters with the right canal side road. 

Sinhagad Road runs for five-kilometres. It starts from Dandekar bridge and ends at Wadgaon overbridge. The road width is 36 metres. However, only 80 per cent of the road width (30 m) is used. Hence, more traffic congestion takes place compared to other roads. 

Major townships on Sinhagad Road have contributed to the increased traffic volume. Real estate development increased in the area in the past one decade.

The PMC tried to solve the traffic problem by constructing a 2.3 km river side road from Vitthalwadi to Bengaluru highway. However, environmentalists objected. The civic body had to stop work as per a Supreme Court (SC) order. 

Due to lack of sufficient road width, Bus Rapid Transit System cannot be implemented. Therefore, bus passengers also have problems. 

Asha Patil, a resident, said, “We purchased a home here. But, we are fed up due to traffic problems in Santosh Hall area. Both sides of the road have been encroached upon by hawkers. There is very little space for pedestrians.”

Abhijit Dombe, Executive Engineer of Road Department of PMC, said, “Encroachments are the main problem of this road. It is a narrow road compared to other main roads. It has no alternative road to divert traffic. After failure of the parallel road to Sinhagad Road, we are trying to develop a road along the right canal of Khadakwasla from Fun Time Cinema hall to PL Deshpande Garden for only two-wheelers as it has only 7.5 m width for 3.5 km length. It will ease congestion on Sinhagad Road.”

“We are also trying to construct a bridge from Brahma Sun City to Hingane so that some traffic can be diverted to Karve Nagar Road. However, it will take some time,” he said.