Pune: Bombay High Court Directs PMC to Expedite Baner-Pashan Link Road Construction

The Bombay High Court has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to expedite the completion of the Baner-Pashan Link Road (BPLR), emphasizing the urgent need to finish the remaining 200 meters of the project. The court has mandated that the municipal commissioner personally oversee the project and ensure its swift completion.

During a hearing on Wednesday, the court addressed a petition from the Baner Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust regarding the pending road work. The bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, issued an order requiring the municipal commissioner to file an affidavit within 10 days, stating the minimum possible time required to complete the construction.

In a previous order on August 2, 2023, the High Court had directed the PMC to make decisions for the compulsory acquisition of land necessary to complete the incomplete stretch of the road. However, PMC failed to acknowledge this order, taking a full year to submit an affidavit filled with excuses and delaying the land acquisition process.

PMC officials mentioned that they were trying to speed up the acquisition by offering compensation through Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and Floor Space Index (FSI), which landowners were not accepting.

Related: Pune: Minister Chandrakantdada Patil Pushes for Rapid Completion of Baner-Pashan Link Road

“Around Rs 25 crore are required to acquire the land if cash compensation has to be given. We have approached the state government for these funds. PMC will follow the court’s recent order and file an affidavit,” said Aniruddha Pawaskar, head of PMC’s road department.

Local residents have expressed their frustration over the delay, highlighting the road’s importance in reducing commuting woes.

A PMC official mentioned that for the construction of 35 meters of the remaining 200 meters, possession of 1,290 square meters of land has been secured. However, 7,585.08 square meters of land are still required to complete the remaining 165 meters of the road, with a budgetary requirement of Rs 48.22 crore.

The Baner-Pashan Link Road, sanctioned in 1992, is crucial for connectivity among Baner, Balewadi, and Pashan, impacting over 250,000 residents. The recent court directive aims to ensure that the long-pending project reaches completion, alleviating the daily struggles of commuters.