Pune, 23 March 2026: The long-delayed widening of the Katraj–Kondhwa road has received a major push, as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has released the remaining ₹136 crore required for land acquisition.
The amount has been handed over to the Special Land Acquisition Officer No. 15 at the District Collector’s office, bringing the process close to completion.
The 3.5-km stretch, originally planned as an 84-meter-wide pilot project, had been stalled for nearly eight years due to delays in land acquisition. Considering rising costs, civic authorities revised the first phase to a 50-meter road width. With the full allocation of ₹272 crore now nearly disbursed, officials aim to complete land acquisition by April 15.
Known for frequent traffic congestion and accidents, the Katraj–Kondhwa road has long been considered a critical infrastructure upgrade for Pune. Officials believe that completing land acquisition will pave the way for faster and more efficient execution of the widening work, significantly improving traffic flow in the area.
District Collector Jitendra Dudi and Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram are closely monitoring the project, conducting review meetings every 15 days. The upcoming municipal budget has also made substantial provisions to support the project’s timely completion.
“Once the land acquisition process is completed, the road widening work will be carried out swiftly and with quality,” said Dhananjay Gaikwad, Deputy Engineer, Road Department.
“For acquiring the required land, the remaining ₹136 crore out of ₹272 crore has been handed over to the Special Land Acquisition Officer No. 15. The PMC has allocated the funds, and follow-ups will continue to ensure early completion,” said Digambar Bangar, Deputy Engineer, Land Acquisition Department.
“The PMC has deposited ₹136 crore with our department. Since the compensation award exceeds ₹100 crore, it has been sent to the state government for approval. After approval, the award will be announced, and landowners will be given 15 days to vacate the land,” said Shweta Darunkar, Special Land Acquisition Officer No. 15.
