Pune Civic Body Greenlights Alternate Airport Road to Alleviate Traffic Congestion
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced a significant infrastructure project aimed at resolving the persistent traffic congestion plaguing the routes to Pune International Airport in Lohegaon. The core of this initiative involves the development of a new, dedicated alternate road connecting the city to the airport.
Key Details of the New Road Project
Additional Municipal Commissioner Omprakash Diwate revealed that the solution lies in constructing a new road from Puru society to the Sabha Mandap plot. He emphasized that this specific development could provide a viable alternate route to the airport in a relatively short timeframe. The revised proposal mandates the creation of a 30-meter wide road on this stretch.
Diwate also issued directives to promptly prepare the revised proposal and conduct the demarcation of land that has already been acquired for the project from 509 chowk to Puru society. He acknowledged that delays in land acquisition have been a primary hurdle in completing several road projects in the area.
Widening, Beautification, and Hawker Rehabilitation
Beyond the new road, the PMC has approved a comprehensive plan for the existing infrastructure. The additional municipal commissioner has ordered the widening of the road from Nagpur chawl to 509 chowk by one to two metres on both sides. A key environmental component of this work will be the transplantation of trees currently located on the existing road.
In a parallel development, the civic body has decided to beautify the existing road from Gunjan chowk to the Airport road, enhancing the aesthetic appeal for commuters. Addressing the social impact, Diwate confirmed that hawkers operating on the affected stretch will be rehabilitated under the Nukkad hawkers scheme, which is being developed through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Addressing the Root Cause: Peak-Hour Chaos
The urgent need for this infrastructure push is driven by the severe traffic bottlenecks experienced on the current airport access routes via Vishranwadi, Yerawada, and Symbiosis road. This congestion has intensified due to a massive increase in corporate offices, educational institutes, and IT firms establishing themselves in the Lohegaon area. A concurrent boom in residential housing around the airport has further compounded the traffic issues, especially during morning and evening peak hours.
