In a decisive move to fast-track long-delayed infrastructure projects, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the district administration have decided to launch forcible land acquisition over the next two months. A special task force has been formed to take on this task, following stalled negotiations with landowners that have severely impacted major civic works-especially road-widening and bridge projects across the city. Key projects like the Katraj-Kondhwa road expansion, the Sun City-Karvenagar river bridge, and the Wakad river bridge have all faced significant delays due to pending land acquisition, despite their importance in easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity.
Officials say that 42 proposals are currently on the table, with 34 linked to PMC’s road department, and others involving PMPML and related agencies. Projects along arterial stretches like the Satara-Mumbai Road and Hadapsar-Solapur Road are among those affected. The urgency stems from the growing frustration among commuters and the mounting need to unlock “missing links”-short yet crucial stretches of road that remain incomplete. The administration hopes that by cutting through red tape and resolving land disputes head-on, they can finally deliver long-promised improvements to Pune’s public infrastructure.