Delay in Land Clearances Stalls 83km Inner Ring Road Project in Pune.

Officials at the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) on Monday attributed delays in the first phase of the proposed 83km Inner Ring Road-from Solu to Wadgaon Shinde-to pending land clearances from defence authorities, the forest department, and the Pune collector’s office. This bottleneck has stalled the process to float tenders necessary for beginning construction. A senior PMRDA officer said, “We are awaiting clearances and will float tenders as soon as we get the go-ahead.”

The Inner Ring Road, designed to decongest Pune’s city core by diverting heavy vehicles directly to highways, is planned in four phases across 44 villages in Khed, Haveli, Mulshi, and Maval talukas. The first 5-km stretch linking Solu, Nirgudi, and Wadgaon Shinde is prioritized to ease congestion along Nagar Road.

Land acquisition for this initial phase is nearing completion, with PMRDA submitting proposals for acquiring 13.17 hectares in Solu, 9.32 hectares in Nirgudi, and 5.71 hectares in Wadgaon Shinde. Following a recent review, officials have been tasked with forwarding acquisition proposals to the district collector and conducting urgent discussions with farmers to settle compensation through methods like floor space index (FSI) or transferable development rights (TDR). Preliminary talks with landowners have occurred, and formal negotiations are expected imminently.

The delay highlights the complexities of urban infrastructure projects involving multiple agencies and large-scale land procurement. With significant construction on the Outer Ring Road (led by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) progressing well, the Inner Ring Road remains critical for improving Pune’s traffic flow and connectivity.

PMRDA continues efforts to expedite approvals and engage stakeholders to minimize further delays, working towards sustainable urban mobility solutions in this rapidly growing region.