Pune: Kothrud road near Ekalavya College may be widened to 36 metres

The Pune Municipal Corporation has been urged to widen a road near Ekalavya College in Kothrud to address frequent traffic congestion following a sharp increase in vehicle movement after the development of a missing link connecting the area to the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway.

Local corporators have pushed the civic administration to take up the work, with a proposal already tabled before the City Improvement Committee and standing committee.

The proposal seeks to develop the road from Shantivan Chowk through Ekalavya College to the national highway to a width of 36 metres, reported The Times of India.

According to the proposal, the route between Bharat Ratna Maharshi Karve Memorial and Shantivan Chowk in old Kothrud limits was planned as a 36-metre-wide road under Pune Municipal Corporation’s 1987 development plan.

However, in the development plan covering the 23 villages later merged with PMC, continuation of the same road in the newly merged Kothrud limits is shown as only 15 metres wide.

The difference in planned road widths has created a bottleneck between wider sections of the network.

Local corporator Dilip Vede-Patil said the road could also reduce pressure on Paud Road.

“If developed properly, this stretch will also help reduce traffic congestion on Paud Road. The roads connecting to both sides of this stretch are much wider, creating a bottleneck here,” he said.

Another corporator, Rohini Chimte, said alternative routes towards Chandni Chowk need to be planned alongside the city’s existing traffic improvement projects.

“PMC has spent a large amount of funds on the Chandni Chowk Traffic Improvement Project. Against this backdrop, proper planning of alternative routes leading towards Chandni Chowk is also essential. Maintaining the said road’s width at only 15m will not be appropriate from the perspective of future urban planning and traffic systems,” she said.

Residents said traffic becomes particularly difficult during peak hours, while the absence of adequate footpaths and roadside parking further reduces usable carriageway space.

The proposal also calls for stricter action against illegal parking and better traffic management along the stretch.

The PMC will have to assess the feasibility, land requirements and cost of the widening before any project can move to the execution stage.

The proposal is aimed at creating a wider alternative connection towards Chandni Chowk and the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway while reducing pressure on Paud Road.