Pune: Development of a 3.5-km stretch of the Katraj-Kondhwa bypass road project worth Rs 149 crore was approved in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Standing Committee meeting on Tuesday. 

Earlier, the project tender cost was Rs 215 crore. It was put up for re-tendering after objections from opposition parties. After re-tendering, the project cost went down and it was approved. After this development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party workers distributed sweets in the PMC premises.
  
Yogesh Mulik, Chairman of Standing Committee said, “The project cost of Katraj-Kondhwa road widening has gone down from Rs 215 crore to Rs 149 crore. In the re-tendering, the same contractor  reduced the cost of the project. So the committee approved the project tender.”

When asked about the reason for slashing of the cost of project, Mulik and PMC Road Department officials could not give a satisfying answer.  

Due to rapid urbanisation along Katraj-Kondhwa road, thee is traffic congestion in the area. So local residents have demanded widening of roads. PMC’s Road Department floated a tender for road widening. Mumbai-based Patel Estate Road Company quoted Rs 215 crore for the work. Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) objected, alleging corruption. So BJP ordered the administration to follow re-tendering process. Then the same company quoted tender amount of Rs 149 crore. This time, the Standing Committee approved the tender. 

As per PMC Road Department, it is 3.5-km of road stretch from Rajas Society, Khadi Machine Chowk and Pisoli village. Road will have a 13.5-metre carriageway, 7.5-metre service road, 5-metre of angular parking, 3-metre cycle track, a utility corridor, footpath, 4.4-metre space for tree plantation, storm water line and drainage lines on both sides.