Pune: The long-awaited land acquisition for the Katraj-Kondhwa road project has commenced, with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) acquiring 835 square meters of land in the first phase.
This acquisition was made possible after the state government allocated ₹140 crore for the project, allowing the municipal body to proceed with compensating landowners.
With this crucial step completed, the construction of a service road along the Katraj-Kondhwa route is set to begin. Aniruddha Pawaskar, head of the road department, confirmed that the work is now feasible, thanks to the successful land acquisition.
Bridge and Ramp Construction to Follow
The acquired land, belonging to Bhushan Society in Katraj, has already seen the start of excavation work. The acquisition has enabled the PMC to begin constructing the service road on both sides, covering a stretch of approximately 250 meters.
Following the completion of this work, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will take charge of constructing the bridge and ramp.
Concerns Addressed in Acquisition Process
The acquisition of land from Bhushan Society was critical for the service road's development. The PMC held discussions with society officials to ensure the land was acquired amicably, offering compensation in cash as per legal guidelines.
All concerns raised by the society's representatives were addressed, leading to a successful handover of the land.
The final handover was completed on Friday (August 16) in the presence of MLA Yogesh Tilekar and senior PMC officials, including Chief Engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar, Superintendent Engineer Sahebrao Dandge, Executive Engineer Amar Shinde, and Deputy Engineer Bagwan from the Property and Management Department.
Funding and Project Scope
The original plan for the Katraj-Kondhwa road envisioned an 84-meter-wide thoroughfare. Approved by the PMC on October 31, 2018, the road is intended to run from Rajasa Society to Khadi Machine Chowk and Pisoli within the municipal limits. However, land acquisition issues had stalled the project.
The initial proposal required ₹710 crore for land acquisition alone, but due to the high costs, the road width was reduced to 50 meters. This adjustment brought the land acquisition cost down to ₹280 crore, half of which has already been provided by the state government.
Local Landowners’ Expectations
There was speculation among local residents that they would receive higher compensation if the land was forcibly acquired by the PMC, leading some to resist voluntary acquisition.
It was believed that compulsory acquisition could yield 20% more compensation compared to the negotiated settlements. Despite these concerns, the PMC has worked to ensure that landowners are fairly compensated, aiming to expedite the long-delayed acquisition process.
