Pune has witnessed increasing clashes between residents and the civic administration over tree felling for infrastructure projects. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) plans to build flyovers, grade separators, and widen roads to accommodate rising vehicle numbers, but citizens argue the city is becoming over-concretized and losing its green cover.
Deccan College Road Flyover Project
The latest flashpoint is the trees lining Deccan College Road from Chima Garden to BEG Kendriya Vidyalaya via Bindu Madhav Balasaheb Thackeray Chowk. The proposed flyover and grade separator, costing approximately Rs 115 crore, aims to channel traffic from Sangamwadi toward Airport Road and left toward Bharat Ratna Late Rajeev Gandhi Hospital in Yerawada. Announced in June 2024, work began in May 2025. PMC's March docket proposed cutting 66 trees, including raintrees, pimpal, neem, and cluster fig trees.
Citizen Resistance
A tree hearing on May 19 at the Dhole Patil Road ward office saw significant opposition. Citizens argued minor adjustments could save most trees. Sana Shaikh of Chalo PMC said, "PMC officials stated 7m width is needed on each side per traffic police mandate. We suggested 6m instead, which would save almost all trees. We visited the site on May 6 and 20 to assess the situation." She added, "Many trees are decades old, and PMC's transplantation record is poor. Uprooting them is akin to killing them. If we don't save them now, we'll be left with a concrete jungle."
Traffic Concerns
The junction connects Yerawada, Bund Garden Road, Vimannagar, Sangamwadi, and Khadki, and is vital for airport commuters. PMC officials cite rising traffic, but residents disagree. Rony Patel, an audio consultant, said, "Congestion occurs only during peak hours. The junction is large, but motorists break rules, ignoring zebra crossings and signals, causing gridlock. Better traffic management, police presence, and fines for violators are needed, not a flyover." Tanmay Dabhade from Vishrantwadi echoed this: "I avoid this route during peak hours. The issue is indiscipline among motorists, especially bus drivers who ignore lane discipline and signals. Better signal timing is a higher priority."
Hillock Land Issue
Chalo PMC members noted a hillock on the right side from Bund Garden Road toward Deccan College, for which PMC hasn't obtained cutting permission. Rekha Joshi, a retired IRS official, said, "PMC hasn't negotiated with the house owner atop the hillock. Without that land, flyover work cannot start. Why rush to cut trees opposite? If the plan changes, we lose precious trees for nothing. We want environmentally conscious infrastructure."
Project Details and Official Response
The project includes a four-lane, two-way flyover from Bund Garden Road to Khadki and Alandi Road, and a one-way three-lane grade separator from Sangamwadi to Bund Garden Road and Ambedkar Chowk toward Pune airport. PMC junior engineer Aniket Shinde said, "Initially 66 trees were marked, but we reduced it to 51. The oldest tree is 7-8 years old." Chief engineer Dinkar Gojare added, "The project has been planned for two years. Airport connectivity is crucial. During peak hours, traffic builds up 1-1.5 km, and accidents occur. Illegal structures will be demolished. We are in talks for the hillock land and have acquired land from Deccan College. Pier work has started."
Expert Opinion
Pratap Raval, retired professor of planning at CoEPTU, stated, "Flyovers should not be the first solution. They only shift congestion to the next junction. Authorities should consider dynamic signal systems, rotary movements, and integrated traffic modeling based on vehicle volume."
