Pune: Service Roads Along NH-48 in Pimpri Chinchwad to Be Widened to 24 Metres, Work Begins in June
Pune, May 15, 2025: The service roads along National Highway 48 (NH-48) from Kiwale to Wakad, within the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits, are set for a significant upgrade. In a joint initiative by PCMC and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), these roads will be widened from the existing 12 metres to 24 metres to ease traffic congestion and enhance urban mobility.
The project, which covers a vital stretch of over 20 kilometres, will commence in June 2025. The work order for the same has already been allotted by the NHAI. The detailed project plan has been prepared by NHAI, which will also undertake the construction and execution of the widened service roads.
To ensure swift execution, a review meeting was recently chaired by PCMC Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh. Senior officials from both PCMC and NHAI attended, including NHAI Project Director Sanjay Kadam, PCMC Additional Commissioner Pradeep Jambhale Patil, City Engineer Makarand Nikam, and other top officers.
Key highlights from the meeting include:
- Encroachment removal: Immediate clearance of unauthorized hoardings, stalls, structures, and poles to clear the path for development.
- Upgraded underground infrastructure: Modernization of sewerage, water pipelines, drainage, and electricity lines to ensure the roads are future-ready.
- Departmental coordination: Singh instructed all relevant departments—including drainage, water supply, electricity, encroachment removal, licensing, and regional administration—to work in a time-bound, coordinated manner to prevent project delays.
“The development should consider all essential services, including stormwater drainage, electricity, sewerage, and water pipelines,” Singh stated. “Proper planning for underground utilities is critical to avoid future obstructions to roadwork.”
Additional Commissioner Pradeep Jambhale Patil emphasized the impact the widened roads will have on urban traffic: “Once the service roads are widened, it will significantly reduce congestion on NH-48 and improve overall traffic management. These upgraded lanes will help divert local traffic off the main carriageway, easing pressure on the highway.”
This ambitious road widening project is part of PCMC’s larger commitment to sustainable and future-ready infrastructure aimed at transforming Pimpri Chinchwad into a more efficient urban environment.
