Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has assured that the long-delayed Katraj–Kondhwa bypass road will be completed by June 2026. Speaking at a real estate conclave on 11 September alongside district collector Jeetendra Dudi, he said the project now has a clear, integrated, and systematic plan in place.
“This is my final promise as the Katraj–Kondhwa bypass road project will be completed by the end of June 2026. The issue was never impossible; it just needed the right decision at the right level,” Ram said. He stressed that while funds are available, what is crucial is vision, direction, and citizen support.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently sanctioned Rs 2.7 billion for land acquisition to widen the road to 50 metres, reallocating Rs 2.2 billion from other departments. The decision was cleared by the standing committee on 12 September. Originally planned at 84 metres wide, the road was scaled down to 50 metres to reduce costs and speed up execution.
Launched in 2017, the project has faced major delays due to land acquisition, with less than 50 per cent progress achieved over the past eight years. Of the required 9.45 million sq. ft. of land, only about 46,456 sq. ft. has been secured. While some landowners prefer direct monetary compensation, transferable development rights (TDR) are gaining popularity in several locations.
Construction is ongoing where land is available, including a grade separator to ease traffic movement. To tackle frequent waterlogging, especially near Rajas Society and outside the State Bank of India branch, PMC will install two 300 mm rainwater drainage lines.
The bypass is expected to ease congestion significantly once complete. The state government had initially sanctioned Rs 1.4 billion, while PMC proposed an additional Rs 2 billion. However, with delays persisting, the corporation chose to independently fund Rs 4.8 billion for land acquisition.
