PUNE, 3 NOV. The Pune Outer Ring Road project, considered one of the state government's most ambitious plans to ease the city's traffic congestion and boost industrial connectivity, has hit a roadblock at a crucial stage. The entire project is divided into a total of 12 packages: five in the western section (W1 to W5) and seven in the eastern section (E1 to E7). By the end of 2024, contracts for nine of these packages have been awarded to contractors, and work on them is progressing rapidly. However, the remaining three packages (E5, E6, and E7) are currently suspended.
Contracts Neither Approved Nor Cancelled
The financial bids for these three packages were opened in January 2025. However, the quoted bid values were significantly higher than the estimate set by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Consequently, the tenders could not be approved and the matter was sent for financial negotiation. Now, ten months have passed, but the contracts have neither been approved nor cancelled or re-issued. According to sources, two companies submitted the lowest bids for packages E5, E6, and E7. These three packages are particularly crucial because they connect the Pune-Solapur National Highway (NH-65) to the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48).
Deadline Likely to Be Extended
According to MSRDC officials, if a prompt decision is not made on these three packages, the progress of the entire Pune Outer Ring Road Project could stall. The original plan aimed to complete the project by the year 2027, but the current situation suggests this deadline may be extended. While work on almost all packages in the western section is in full swing with approximately 99% of land acquisition completed, and land acquisition in the eastern section is about 98% complete, the delay concerning E5 to E7 is impacting the overall coordination of the entire corridor.
Government Must Decide Soon to Complete Project on Time
Once completed, this ring road will provide an alternate route for industrial areas, highway connectivity, and freight movement around Pune city. This will alleviate traffic congestion within the city and offer heavy vehicles an exit route away from urban areas. Engineering experts suggest that if a quick decision is not made on these three packages, the rapid construction progress in the western section may become futile, as the entire road network will only be fully usable once the eastern section is connected. The ball is now in the state government's court. The state government must take an immediate decision on these three pending packages—E5, E6, and E7—to ensure the entire project is completed on time and benefits the citizens of Pune. Local residents and urban planners have also appealed to the government to expedite the tender process for these critical packages to avoid further delays in the project.
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