The ongoing road widening work on a 50-meter stretch of the Pune-Solapur Highway near Race Course is causing severe traffic congestion and worsening dust pollution, according to commuters traveling from Hadapsar. Regular travelers describe the stretch as one of the city’s most chaotic and congested, with inadequate planning by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) causing significant inconvenience. The work, initiated after years of delay due to land acquisition issues, is expected to be completed by the end of January. Heavy vehicles from Pune rural areas and increased visitor traffic for Christmas celebrations have further contributed to the chaos.
PMC officials stated that the delay in the project was due to aligning water conduits to prevent future complications. Wanowrie traffic division officials noted that once completed, the widened stretch will ease traffic congestion, especially at Fatima Nagar junction. However, commuters continue to face daily hardships, with the dust and pollution adding to their woes. The authorities have urged patience, assuring residents that the improvements will bring long-term benefits.