Pune: Addressing the concerns of local residents, the Maharashtra government, under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has announced a complete ban on online taxi services such as Ola and Uber in Lonavala.

This decision was taken during a high-level review meeting held on Tuesday (August 20), at the Ministry to discuss various issues facing Lonavala city.

The ban, which brings relief to local rickshaw and taxi drivers, is among several important decisions made during the meeting.

Ajit Pawar also allocated ₹15 crore for land acquisition to expedite the construction of a railway overpass between Bhangarwadi and Nangargaon, alongside instructions to fast-track connecting road projects and other infrastructure developments.

Additionally, measures were discussed to secure employment for local residents, particularly those impacted by recent actions in the Bhushi Dam area, which relies heavily on tourism.

Ajit Pawar also directed that the scrutiny of documents submitted in Mumbai for job opportunities on a compassionate basis within the Lonavala Municipal Council should be completed within the next eight days, and that immediate action should be taken to provide employment opportunities to eligible individuals.

Sewage Treatment Project: A proposal has been sent to the central government for approval to implement nine STP projects through PMRDA to address the sewage problem in Lonavala. The concerned authorities have been instructed to expedite the work.

Decisions on Traffic Congestion and Water Supply: The meeting also addressed the issue of traffic congestion in Lonavala, instructing the Municipal Council to take immediate action for the widening of the old Mumbai-Pune highway.

Additionally, orders were issued to the concerned department to provide land owned by the Public Works Department for the construction of a water tank to solve the water supply issue within the Municipal Council limits.