Pune, 3rd December 2024: The Pune ring road, aimed at easing traffic congestion in the rapidly growing urban region, will be executed in four phases.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) clarified that the recent ceremony was not a formal groundbreaking event but a traditional inauguration by the contractor for their office and machinery.
The 170-km ring road, divided into East and West segments, has been designed to connect major highways and decongest city traffic. The first phase, a 24.5-km road linking Pune-Nagar Road and Solapur Highway, has been awarded to Roadways Solution India Infra Limited.
On Wednesday, the company organized a traditional prayer ceremony at Wadebolhai village near Kesnand, signaling the start of construction work. Over 100 excavation machines and equipment have been deployed to expedite the project, according to Roadways Solution Infra's official B.K. Singh.
The event saw the participation of the company’s Managing Director Amit Gadhoke, senior officials B.K. Singh and Kunal Gupta, and local villagers.
Higher Tender Costs Raise Concerns
The ring road project, expected to reduce vehicular congestion significantly, has faced criticism due to its higher-than-expected tender costs. The tenders received were 40-45% higher than the preliminary estimates prepared by MSRDC, leading to increased scrutiny of the project.
When contacted, MSRDC Superintendent Engineer Rahul Vasaikar clarified, “The recent event was not an official foundation-laying ceremony for the ring road. The contractor performed a traditional ceremony for their operational readiness, which included setting up offices and deploying machinery.”
The ring road project will be executed in four phases. The East segment will connect major routes like Pune-Nagar Road, Solapur Highway, and other critical arteries. The initiative aims to provide a seamless commute for the growing population of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
