PUNE: Two years after laying the foundation stone for the Chandni Chowk multi-level flyover, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is still struggling to acquire land for the project. It has acquired 83 per cent of land so far. 

On August 27, 2017, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of the project. Now, Gadkari has the same portfolio in Modi Cabinet 2. He is visiting Pune for the work of widening and six-laning of the road from Vadgaon Budruk (Navale Bridge) to Katraj Junction of National Highway on Friday.
 
During his visit, Gadkari will review the Chandni Chowk project. 

The National High Authority of India (NHAI) consultant started the service road work at six places around Chandni Chowk last year. However, the PMC has not handed over the land to NHAI.
 
In 2015, the PMC agreed to provide land to NHAI for the project. NHAI divided the project into two phases so that PMC gets time to acquire the 11.4 hectares land out of the 13 hectares needed for the project. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 400 crore and it would be borne by NHAI.
 
Speaking to media, PMC Deputy Commissioner, Land Acquisition Department, Vanashree Labhsetwar said, “We have acquired 83 per cent of land. Some land owners demanded Transfer Development Rights (TDRs) as compensation. Now, they are refusing to take TDRs and want cash compensation. 13 landowners from Biodiversity Park (BDP) land have refused to take compensation for BDP land. The government has decided compensation patterns. Now, we have sent a letter to the State Urban Department to guide us in this case.”