Pune: Progress on Katraj-Kondhwa Road Widening Slows, Funds Release Imminent
Katraj, 6th June 2024: The pace of widening the Katraj-Kondhwa road has been sluggish lately. The sanctioned amount of 140 crore from the Maharashtra state government faced delays due to the model code of conduct during the Lok Sabha elections. However, with the immediate release of funds now imminent, the widening of the Katraj-Kondhwa road and land acquisition processes are expected to accelerate. Against this backdrop, officials from the Road Department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) inspected the road.
The plan includes extending the length of the flyover from Katraj Chowk to Gokul Nagar Chowk. However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is disputing the extension, citing delays in the flyover work at Katraj Chowk. Additionally, due to the lack of land acquisition in front of Rajas Society Chowk, the immediate landing of the flyover there seems unfeasible. PMC officials are endeavouring to expedite land acquisition to ensure smooth traffic flow.
The construction of grade separators at Shatrunjay Mandir and Khadi Machine Chowk will also be accelerated, with efforts to complete both within the next month. Present at the inspection were Superintending Engineer Sahebrao Dandge, Deputy Engineer Dhananjay Gaikwad, and Junior Engineer Rajeshwari Murade.
Subway inspections near Shatrunjay Mandir Chowk and Khadi Machine Chowk have been conducted, with plans to expedite work at both locations. Immediate land acquisition initiatives are underway elsewhere as well. Furthermore, measures are being taken to ensure traffic planning remains uninterrupted during the underpass construction at Mauli Chowk, as highlighted by Sahebrao Dandge, Superintending Engineer of the Road Department at PMC.
