Pune: PMC Acquires Crucial Land at Katraj Chowk, Clears 28-Year Traffic Hurdle
In a welcome move to alleviate chronic traffic congestion at Katraj Chowk, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has successfully acquired a 40-guntha (40,000 sq ft) land parcel after a 28-year-long struggle. The civic body paid ₹21.57 crore in cash compensation to the landowner, paving the way for the construction of a 60-meter-wide road and facilitating the Katraj flyover project.
The land, located at the beginning of the Katraj flyover, is crucial for the development of the Katraj-Kondhwa Road and the proposed six-lane flyover. The acquisition process, completed on Tuesday, was spearheaded by Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Additional Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj BP, and Deputy Commissioner Pratibha Patil. Key contributions were also made by Deputy Engineer Digambar Bangar, Branch Engineer Rupali Dhage, Draftsman Santosh Shinde, and Special Land Acquisition Officers Harshad Ghule and Ajikya Patil.
A Long-Pending Resolution
For decades, Katraj Chowk has been a major traffic bottleneck, despite the construction of a flyover on the Katraj-Kondhwa Road near the Katraj Zoo seven years ago. The newly acquired land, previously reserved as a park in the 2017 Development Plan (DP), was re-designated as a 60-meter road to address the persistent congestion.
Initially, PMC had offered Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) to landowner Sanjay Gugale as compensation. However, Gugale refused and filed a writ petition against PMC in 2005. The court ruled that PMC could not use or encroach upon the land without legal acquisition. This led to the eventual cash compensation and resolution of the long-standing dispute.
Flyover Project and Road Development
The acquisition is a critical step in the construction of the Katraj flyover, which is part of a larger plan to ease traffic on the Katraj-Kondhwa Road. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed a six-lane flyover spanning 1,326 meters in length and 24.20 meters in width, stretching from the Pune-Mumbai Bypass to the Katraj-Kondhwa Road.
Deputy Commissioner Pratibha Patil stated, “We have completed the acquisition of 40 gunthas of prime land at Katraj Chowk. PMC paid ₹21.57 crore in cash compensation to the owner. Now, we will develop a 60-meter road. The land is also crucial for the Katraj-Kondhwa flyover. Due to a holiday on Wednesday, roadwork will commence on Thursday.”
A Collaborative Effort
The successful acquisition was achieved through the dedicated efforts of PMC’s Land Acquisition and Management Department, led by Deputy Commissioner Pratibha Patil, along with engineers and officials from PMC and the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Pune. The process was completed on February 25, 2025, marking a significant milestone in addressing the traffic woes of the area.
With the land now under PMC’s control, the development is expected to bring much-needed relief to commuters on the Katraj-Kondhwa Road and at Katraj Main Chowk, resolving a traffic issue that has plagued the area for nearly three decades.
