The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is gearing up to finalize contractors for the ambitious 136-km ring road project around Pune by the end of July. Anilkumar Gaikwad, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of MSRDC, has shared that construction will kick off post-monsoon, a major move towards easing traffic congestion on Pune’s internal roads.
The contractor selection process is currently underway, with 19 bids received earlier this year from various companies. Gaikwad mentioned that five companies will be chosen for different stretches as the project progresses in nine phases. Tenders were initially invited on January 17, with bids opening on March 26, slightly delayed due to the Lok Sabha elections.
The ring road project consists of eastern and western corridors, with the western corridor covering 65.45 km and the eastern corridor spanning 71.35 km. The construction will be divided into phases, with the western corridor progressing through five phases and the eastern corridor through four phases. The goal is to complete the project by September 2027.
Land acquisition has been making significant progress, with 90% of the required land for the western phase already secured. Efforts are now focused on acquiring land for the eastern phase, with plans to begin in July-August after the allocation of funds. The acquisition process covers 1,900 hectares across 87 villages, with an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore.
The infrastructure scope of the project includes the construction of eight tunnels, three small bridges, two large bridges, and a half-kilometer bridge over Khadakwasla dam’s backwaters. The western route will pass through Bhor, Haveli, Mulshi, and Maval talukas, while the eastern route will cut through Maval, Khed, Haveli, Purandar, and Bhor talukas.
MSRDC has secured a loan from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO) for project funding. Officials from MSRDC have confirmed that the land acquisition process for the eastern phase will begin in July-August following the allocation of necessary funds.
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