Pune: Commencement of Pune’s Ring Road Project Delayed Until Post-Monsoon Season Amidst Possible Announcement of Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha
Pune: Efforts to kickstart the long-awaited Ring Road project in Pune and Pimpri have hit a roadblock, as the foundational ceremony, anticipated before the Lok Sabha elections, now stands postponed. With the onset of the monsoon season, the commencement of work on this project is expected to be further delayed.
Initiated by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the Ring Road project aims to alleviate the persistent traffic congestion plaguing the twin cities. Land acquisition for the project’s east-west segments is currently underway, albeit at varying stages of progress.
While the western portion’s land acquisition is nearing completion, reaching nearly 90 percent, the eastern segment lags behind at a mere 40 percent completion. Cumulatively, land acquisition for the project stands at 70 percent.
Despite the SRDC’s issuance of a tender worth Rs 17,500 crore for project implementation, the impending enforcement of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections has thrown a wrench into immediate plans. The tender opening, scheduled for March 12, may be hindered by the code’s enactment on March 15, thereby stalling progress for at least two to two-and-a-half months.
Even upon the tender’s opening, the announcement of contract awards to contractors seems improbable, necessitating a prolonged verification period and subsequent approval issuance to the selected contractors.
The delayed foundational ceremony, originally sought by the Deputy Chief Minister and Pune’s Guardian Minister, Ajit Pawar, has left stakeholders disheartened. Despite Pawar’s keen interest in the project’s initiation, unforeseen circumstances have thwarted the scheduled ground breaking ceremony.
With the window for the foundational ceremony narrowing in light of the impending model code of conduct, prospects for its realisation before the code’s enforcement appear bleak. Consequently, Rahul Vasaikar, Superintending Engineer of the SRDC, Pune, has confirmed that project commencement is now slated for post-monsoon season, following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections’ model code of conduct.