Deputy CM Shinde Urges Improvement in Pune’s Road Infrastructure

Pune: Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, speaking at an event in Pune on Friday, stressed the importance of high-quality road infrastructure for the city's image and economic growth. Shinde highlighted that the poor condition of roads can significantly affect a city's reputation, especially when it comes to attracting global investors.

Shinde cited the example of Mumbai, the financial capital of India, where one of his first decisions as Chief Minister in 2022 was to eliminate potholes. He explained, “As the financial hub, Mumbai hosts numerous global investors, and the city's image is crucial. Proper infrastructure is essential to maintain a positive perception.”

Shinde was in Pune to attend the general body meeting of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (Credai). During his speech, he also mentioned the state government's efforts to improve the transport sector by building a remote access control grid. This grid aims to allow anyone to reach any part of the state within eight hours, significantly enhancing connectivity.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram also addressed the gathering, acknowledging the significant traffic issues in the city. He noted that over 30-35 major projects are currently underway, leading to traffic congestion. “Around 33% of the city's roads, which carry 80% of the traffic, are affected due to ongoing construction work throughout the year,” Ram pointed out.

Shinde further emphasized the importance of road infrastructure by citing the example of the United States. He stated, “The US became economically prosperous largely due to its high-quality road network.” He added that the state government is working on similar initiatives to improve transport infrastructure in Maharashtra.

The deputy CM also highlighted the positive impact of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on the city's economy. “The construction of the expressway significantly reduced travel time between Mumbai and Pune, boosting the IT and automobile industries. This, in turn, led to a real estate boom in Pune,” he said.

However, Shinde acknowledged that the IT Park in Hinjewadi, a key area for the city's economic growth, has long struggled with poor road conditions. “Industry representatives have expressed concerns about the poor quality of infrastructure, which can deter global executives from visiting the area,” he noted.

Shinde pledged to address several infrastructure-related issues in Pune, including expediting the scrapped development plan (DP) proposed by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Area (PMRDA), traffic management, and addressing homes built within flood lines.

Meanwhile, PMC Commissioner Ram announced that the civic administration will take strict action against encroachment. “We have identified 10-12 chronic waste spots in the city where garbage accumulates quickly, even after it has been cleared,” he said.

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Shekhar Singh emphasized the need for all stakeholders, including government agencies and developers, to focus on issues such as water availability and air pollution. “While the real estate sector has taken steps to mitigate air pollution, construction activities in the city are a significant contributor to this problem, along with vehicle emissions,” he said.

Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi discussed real estate reforms, stating that the district administration is taking steps to digitize revenue records to ease bureaucratic red tape in the sector. “We are committed to making the process more transparent and efficient,” he said.

In his concluding remarks, Shinde proposed the introduction of an online portal for transferable development rights (TDR) in Pune, similar to the one in Mumbai. This initiative aims to bring greater transparency to the real estate sector and facilitate smoother development processes.