Pune: The long-delayed Katraj-Kondhwa road widening project is expected to receive renewed momentum. The much-awaited ₹140 crore fund for land acquisition along the road stretch is now expected to be released soon by the Maharashtra State government, following the lifting of the Model Code of Conduct after the Lok Sabha General Election results were declared.
Officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) visited the Katraj-Kondhwa Road sites for inspection. The officials claimed that the grade separator work at Shatrunjay Mandir junction and Khadi Machine Chowk will be completed within a month. PMC Road Department Superintendent Engineer Sahebrao Dandage, Deputy Engineer Dhananjay Gaikwad, and Junior Engineer Rajeshwari Murade were part of the team that inspected the project work.
Dandage also mentioned that the team inspected the Maulinagar junction, where the grade separator work is expected to begin soon. The inspection aimed to identify measures to ensure that traffic flow is not disrupted during the work.
The Wonder City - Rajas Society flyover bridge work is also progressing slowly. The PMC had proposed to extend this flyover's length up to Gokul Nagar, but the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials have not responded positively to this proposal.
Meanwhile, encroachments can be seen along the Katraj-Kondhwa road, especially near Maulinagar junction and Gokul Nagar junction, despite periodic PMC anti-encroachment drives. Residents in these areas have demanded that the PMC officials expedite the road widening work to provide relief from traffic snarls and minor accidents.
