Pune: Long-Awaited Balewadi–Wakad Bridge Road Project Finally Gains Traction

Pune, 8th April 2026: In a significant push to ease chronic traffic congestion in Baner, Balewadi, and Wakad areas, the district administration has issued a land acquisition notification for the long-pending Balewadi–Wakad bridge road project in Baner’s Kaspate Vasti area.

According to the notification issued by the district collector’s office, land will be acquired for a 30-metre-wide Development Plan (DP) road in Baner to facilitate the Balewadi–Wakad bridge. The acquisition is being carried out under Section 205 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act.

The project, being jointly executed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), had remained stalled for a long time due to land acquisition hurdles. While PCMC has completed its portion of the work on the Wakad side, progress on the Baner stretch under PMC’s jurisdiction was held up owing to pending land acquisition issues.

Earlier in February this year, the Bombay High Court had directed PMC and Pune district administration to complete the acquisition of 10 guntha land within a year to complete the project.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, who has been advocating measures to decongest key traffic corridors in the region, said the work on the crucial “missing link” is now expected to gather pace. Authorities said the proposed road has been designed keeping future traffic growth in mind and will include provisions for footpaths and dedicated cycling tracks.

Patil emphasized the project's importance in addressing congestion between Baner and Wakad, stating that it will provide long-term relief to commuters. “Efforts were underway to expedite this route, and with the notification now issued, the project will move forward. Once completed, it will significantly reduce traffic bottlenecks in the area,” he said.

The new link is also expected to serve as a shorter route for thousands of commuters traveling to the Hinjewadi IT Park. Officials estimate that traffic load at key junctions such as Radha Chowk and Bhujbal Chowk on the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway could reduce by up to 50 per cent after the project is completed.