The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) approved a detailed project report for the proposed Balbharti-Paud link road project without convening a meeting of the expert committee, civic activist Prashant Inamdar of Pedestrian First has alleged in a communication to Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar.
“I have been studying the project details and closely following the developments regarding the project for the past 16 years. It is reported that PMC has now finalised the tender for the Balbharati road and it will be issued on Monday. The tender has been prepared as per the DPR prepared by the consultants,” said Inamdar, who is a member of the expert committee formed to review the project following an order from the Bombay High Court.
He said the PMC did not share the DPR with the revised plan with him for study though he was a member of the expert committee. “I came to know about the DPR only through media reports and obtained a copy of the DPR later through other sources,” Inamdar said.
“I have studied the DPR and submitted my analysis note on the DPR plan for Balbharati road. Major issues noted in my study of the DPR and the revised plan therein have been highlighted in the analysis note. Earlier, I also submitted my review report in 2021 on the consultants’ traffic study report. My communication in January and February this year has not received any response from the PMC. It may also be noted that PMC has not convened a meeting of the expert committee to discuss the DPR before approving it unilaterally.”
Inamdar said the PMC had put blind faith in consultants and decided to construct the Balbharati road without application of mind and due diligence.
“Implementing the Balbharati road project as per the DPR would prove to be a massive, devastating blunder with permanent grave repercussions for the traffic scenario and road safety conditions in the affected influence areas, apart from the severe irreversible environmental impacts. It is also most likely that the intended purpose of solving the traffic congestion problem on Law College road would not be achieved and congestion on the road would continue even after the construction of the Balbharati road,” he said.
Inamdar said, “I earnestly urge you to put the Balbharati road tender on HOLD. Kindly have detailed discussions on the critical matter to understand the serious issues and appreciate the gravity of the matter. The Balbharati road, as per the DPR, would be highly detrimental to the city’s and citizens’ long-term interests and the decision needs to be urgently reviewed.”
