PMC reconsiders Balbharati–Paud Phata road with a possible tunnel under Vetal Tekdi.
Supreme Court earlier ordered environmental clearance before work begins.
Fresh plan may trigger new disputes with environmentalists.
Pune, 30 October 2025: The Balbharati–Paud Phata road project through Vetal Tekdi has once again taken a new turn. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is preparing a fresh plan to explore whether a tunnel can be built under the hill, despite earlier deciding on a mix of elevated and ground-level routes.
The project was originally proposed as an alternative link to Law College Road, with a total stretch of 1.8 kilometres, 400 meters of which was designed as an elevated flyover. In 2022, the PMC approved a Detailed Project Report (DPR) costing ₹252.13 crore, choosing the elevated road option after studying three alternatives: a surface road, a 3-meter-high elevated route, and a tunnel.
Environmental activists had challenged the project in the Bombay High Court and later in the Supreme Court, which directed the PMC to first obtain environmental clearance before starting any construction. Following this, the civic body appointed a consultant to prepare the necessary documents for clearance.
However, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram recently stated that the corporation is re-examining whether a tunnel could be a feasible alternative, and that a new estimate will be prepared accordingly. He also noted that the project currently lacks budgetary allocation, which may be included in the next financial plan.
Experts have raised concerns that revisiting the tunnel option could lead to renewed conflict. They argue that a tunnel would require extensive drilling through the hill, disrupting natural water springs and increasing environmental risk. They also warn that starting over would mean fresh permissions, new objections, and another round of court battles.
Former Opposition Leader Ujwal Keskar said that PMC had already studied all possibilities before approving the elevated route. He cautioned that reopening the plan would only delay the project and revive public opposition.
For Pune, the Balbharati–Paud Phata road remains one of the city’s most contested infrastructure projects, balancing urban connectivity with environmental preservation.
