PCMC Awaits State Funds for Pune-Nashik Highway Widening Project.

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is currently awaiting the allocation of ₹262 crore in funds from the Maharashtra state government to facilitate the acquisition of remaining land parcels required for the widening of the Pune-Nashik highway within its jurisdiction. The civic body had submitted its funding request in February, but the demand was not addressed in either the annual or supplementary state budgets.

According to a senior PCMC official, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed expanding the existing highway to a uniform width of 60 meters. The current width of the highway varies considerably, ranging from 45 meters in some sections to a narrow 24 meters in areas like Bhosari and Chakan. While PCMC has successfully acquired approximately 90 percent of the necessary land through mechanisms like Floor Space Index (FSI) and Transferable Development Rights (TDR), the remaining landowners are insisting on monetary compensation, necessitating the request for state government financial support.

Civic officials noted that the land acquisition process between Nashik Phata and Bhosari progressed relatively smoothly, primarily because a significant portion of the land belonged to government entities such as the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and the defence ministry. However, acquiring land for the 12-kilometer stretch situated between Bhosari and the Indrayani river, which falls entirely within PCMC limits, has proven to be a more complex undertaking.

Last year, the Centre's cabinet committee approved projects worth ₹7,827 crore, including an eight-lane elevated corridor spanning from Nashik Phata to Khed. NHAI has already initiated the bidding process for this elevated section, and PCMC is currently awaiting updates regarding the precise locations of entry and exit points to facilitate the acquisition of any additional land that may be required.

In December of the previous year, Shirur Member of Parliament Amol Kolhe also intervened by writing a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging the state government to prioritize the acquisition of land for the 30-kilometer Nashik Phata-Khed elevated corridor. In his communication, Kolhe conveyed information received from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and NHAI officials during a meeting in Delhi, indicating that the project was facing delays due to land acquisition challenges encountered by the local authorities. The continued delay in receiving the requested state funds poses a potential impediment to the timely execution of the crucial Pune-Nashik highway widening project.