PMC to install cement poles to demarcate proposed Balbharati-Paud road link; protesters oppose move
With no signs of opposition mellowing down over the proposed Balbharati-Paud road link across Vetal Hill, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to demarcate the stretch by installing cement poles on both sides of the proposed road in the hope that citizens would understand the final alignment, reducing the opposition to it.
“The PMC will soon start putting up concrete poles to demarcate the stretch that will be used for the construction of the proposed road from Balbharti to Paud road. This will hopefully remove misunderstanding among many citizens who are opposing it,” said V G Kulkarni, in charge of the civic road department.
The proposed road, 30 meters wide and 2.1 km long, is going to be an elevated stretch. “The concrete poles will be at regular gap. It will provide the correct picture of the road for citizens,” he said.
However, the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti, which has been protesting against the project, has opposed the move saying the PMC should have used eco-friendly material instead of cement pole markers.
In a statement, Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti said it has learned that the PMC is undertaking the marking of the final alignment of the proposed Balbharati -Paud Phata road on the tekdi slopes. “There are going to be 250 cement pole markers of about 3 feet tall which will be inserted 20 ft apart along the entire alignment. The procurement of these poles is underway. There is, currently, no clarity on what is the final alignment of the proposed road as PMC has been constantly changing the alignment of the approved road shown in the Development Plan,” it said.
The Detailed Project Report on the PMC website also shows two alignments, the samiti said. “Our RTI application regarding the same is not being entertained by PMC and we have received no response for almost 2 months now. It is important to have clarity on the final alignment of the proposed road. But instead of using cement poles as markers on the tekdi, PMC should use a more environment-friendly marking — like coloured rocks all along the alignment at regular intervals,” it added.
Cement markers installed six years ago for the High Capacity Mass Transit Route still remain on the hill. Once installed, these poles will never be removed. It is unnecessary intervention and digging, the samiti said.
The samiti insisted that their demand was that the road project should be removed from the DP and that hills should be preserved as a no-development, no-construction zone.
Deputy chairperson of state legislative council Neelam Gorhe has written to municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar to immediately stop the plan of putting cement poles to demarcate the proposed road. “I had written to you last month that no work should be taken up for proposed road unless there is public hearing on the grievances take place. However, the cement poles are planned to be put up to demarcate road area and trees would be cut. The PMC should direct the concerned department to not to go ahead with it,” she said adding the PMC should submit report on the action taken on the issue.
