Pune: Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari Takes Charge as PMRDA Commissioner; Ring Road, Metro Top Priority List
Pune, March 9, 2026: Bringing with him a reputation for administrative firmness and a 15-year track record across Maharashtra, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari officially assumed charge as the Metropolitan Commissioner of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) on Monday. The 2011-batch officer takes the helm at a crucial juncture, with the region’s ambitious infrastructure projects, including the long-awaited Pune Ring Road and the Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor, facing mounting public scrutiny and demand for delivery .
Key Priorities: Infrastructure Acceleration and Urban Planning
Immediately upon taking charge, Dr. Chaudhari outlined his vision for the PMRDA, emphasising a multi-pronged approach to tackle the region’s most pressing urban challenges. Speaking to the media at the PMRDA headquarters, he identified fast-tracking major infrastructure projects as his foremost priority.
“I am committed to ensuring that Pune’s growth is not only rapid but also sustainable and well-planned,” Dr. Chaudhari stated. “Our focus will be on accelerating work on the Ring Road and the Metro projects, while ensuring that our town planning schemes are implemented effectively to support the region’s expansion” .
The Ring Road Project: A Game-Changer for Regional Mobility
One of the most significant projects under the PMRDA’s purview is the Pune Ring Road, a massive infrastructure undertaking designed to decongest the city by diverting intercity traffic away from urban roads. The ₹55,000-crore project, spanning 168 kilometres, is planned as a high-speed, access-controlled highway encircling the metropolitan area .
Dr. Chaudhari inherits a project that has already made substantial progress. Work on the western section of the Pune outer ring road has entered an active construction phase, with large infrastructure components such as tunnels, bridges, and elevated structures advancing simultaneously across multiple sites. The western alignment alone includes eight tunnels and several major bridges, stretching from the Mumbai–Pune Expressway junction near Urse to the Pune–Bengaluru highway near Shivare .
Once operational, the corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time for vehicles moving between Mumbai and southern Maharashtra districts such as Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur, while also serving traffic heading towards Bengaluru . Land acquisition for the western section has progressed rapidly, enabling contractors to expand construction activities across multiple packages.
Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar Metro: Addressing the Delay Challenge
Perhaps the most immediate challenge awaiting the new commissioner is the Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor (Line 3) , which has repeatedly missed deadlines. The much-awaited 23.203-km elevated corridor, being executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, was expected to begin services by March 31, 2026, but is now facing further delays .
A ground reality check by Pune Times Mirror revealed that while track work is 100% complete, the installation of automatic signalling systems remains unfinished. Work on entry and exit gates at several metro stations is still in progress, with workers on site estimating that it could take another three to four months before all pending work is completed .
Rinaz Pathan, Chief Engineer of PMRDA, had previously acknowledged the delay, stating: “Our plan was to start the metro line and finish the pending work of stations simultaneously. However, since the signalling work is still not completed, we could not begin the service” .
For thousands of IT employees and daily commuters banking on relief from traffic chaos on the congested Hinjawadi stretch, the wait continues. Dr. Chaudhari’s track record of adhering strictly to rule books and administrative procedures during his tenure as Nagpur Municipal Corporation commissioner will now be tested in pushing this project to completion .
Town Planning Schemes: Laying the Foundation for Organised Growth
Beyond the headline infrastructure projects, Dr. Chaudhari has emphasised the importance of town planning (TP) schemes in managing the region’s rapid urban growth across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and surrounding rural areas .
The PMRDA has been actively working on multiple TP schemes to facilitate planned development. In a significant move, the Maharashtra government had previously granted approval to four preliminary TP schemes prepared by PMRDA, enabling the immediate development of approximately 6.8 kilometres of the crucial Ring Road .
However, challenges remain. Following Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ directive that all future plans must include roads at least 18 metres wide, the state government had cancelled six development drafts that PMRDA had prepared. These pending TP proposals were denied approval as they featured roads only 9 to 12 metres wide .
The affected schemes include Maan-Mahalunge (250.50 hectares), Autade-Handewadi (94.74 hectares), Manjari-Kolavadi (233.35 hectares), Wadachiwadi (134.79 hectares), Holkarwadi-4 (158.19 hectares), and Holkarwadi-5 (130.78 hectares) .
Dr. Chaudhari’s predecessor, Dr. Yogesh Mhase, had assured that these plans would be re-examined and revised where possible. The new commissioner must now navigate these revisions while maintaining momentum on ongoing developments .
Environmental Focus and Stakeholder Engagement
Demonstrating a holistic approach to urban development, Dr. Chaudhari also highlighted the importance of the river rejuvenation project and environmental conservation. The river project is anticipated to be crucial in enhancing environmental conditions in the metropolitan area .
Additionally, he stressed the need to resolve pending issues related to land acquisition and farmer compensation through coordination and dialogue. This stakeholder-centric approach could prove vital in smoothing the path for infrastructure projects that often face resistance from affected communities .
Who is Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari?
An MBBS graduate who cleared the UPSC examination twice, first for the IPS in 2010 and then for the IAS in 2011, Dr. Chaudhari brings a diverse administrative background to his new role .
His previous postings include serving as Municipal Commissioner of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) from July 2023 to March 2026, where he often found himself at loggerheads with political representatives over policy and project-related issues. Officials who worked with him note that Chaudhari maintained a firm stance, adhering strictly to rule books and administrative procedures despite pressure from elected representatives .
His career has also included roles as CEO of Zilla Parishad Aurangabad, collector of Bhandara and Sangli, and municipal commissioner in Kolhapur and Aurangabad before his Nagpur posting .
The Road Ahead
Dr. Chaudhari takes charge of PMRDA at a transformative moment for Pune’s urban landscape. With major infrastructure projects at various stages of completion, pending town planning schemes awaiting approval, and growing demands from citizens for improved mobility and liveability, his administrative experience will be crucial in steering the region towards what he describes as a “well-planned, industry-friendly, and sustainable metropolitan region” .
The new commissioner succeeds Dr. Yogesh Mhase, who has been transferred to Mantralaya in Mumbai as Secretary of the Minority Development Department . As Pune continues to grow as a manufacturing and technology hub, Dr. Chaudhari’s leadership will likely play a key role in balancing economic expansion with efficient regional transport networks and sustainable urban development .
