By Vidhi Thacker
The issue of the land acquisition at the Katraj main Junction, part of the 60-meter Development Plan Road at Survey No. 1/2 B, has finally been resolved after twenty eight years. The Pune Municipal Corporation has acquired the properties, a total area of 3,968 square meters, at the price of Rs. 21 Crore.
The possession of the land was carried out in conformity with the land acquisition laws under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale and Prithviraj B.P., Additional Municipal Commissioner. The process was completed on Tuesday.
This marks a significant development in resolving the traffic issues at the Katraj main Junction and Katraj-Kondhwa Road, one of Pune’s busiest routes. The acquired land will improve connectivity in the area and will ensure better flow of traffic.
Aniruddha Pawaskar, PMC Road Department Chief, said,“The work on the junction will begin immediately now that the land acquisition has been completed. The road work will commence without further delays.” To start the construction of the Katraj flyover, PMC will use the acquired land for road construction as it is right at the beginning of the flyover.
PMC had initially offered landowner Sanjay Gugale transfer of development rights as compensation. However, it was refused by him and in turn a writ petition was filed against the PMC. The court ruled that PMC could not encroach upon or use the land unless it was legally obtained.
In the 2017 Development Plan (DP), PMC changed the land’s reservation from a ‘park’ to a 60-meter road.
To further address congestion, NHAI 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. In the 2017 Development Plan, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) changed the use of the land from a park to a 60-meter road. To reduce traffic congestion, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) suggested building a six-lane flyover. This flyover would be 1,326 meters long and 24.20 meters wide, connecting the Pune-Mumbai Bypass to Katraj-Kondhwa Road.