Land measurement for Chakan bypass set to begin, project to ease traffic congestion | Pune News – The Times of India

Pune: The long-pending Chakan bypass project, a crucial step towards decongesting one of Maharashtra’s busiest industrial belts, has gained momentum with Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) set to initiate land measurement.The proposed bypass will directly connect Chakan-Shikrapur and Chakan-Talegaon roads with Pune-Nashik highway, allowing trucks to avoid the congested town. Officials believe the route will not only ease traffic but also cut travel time for freight carriers heading towards Mumbai, Nashik, and Aurangabad. They also expect smoother vehicular flow at several busy intersections within Chakan where long queues of container trucks often stall movement during peak hours.Anil Daunde, sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Khed, told TOI, “About 40 acres of land in four villages on the outskirts of Chakan will be required. We will soon begin land measurement in these villages. Since these parcels are highly valued, we must proceed carefully. PMRDA will bear the charges for the measurement work, and once funds are released, the process will move forward on the ground.”Dilip Barwal, secretary of Federation of Chakan Industry, said the bypass has been under discussion for nearly a decade but land acquisition, compensation issues, and shifting priorities have delayed it.”Industries continue to expand, stakeholders have been pressing for faster execution, warning that unchecked congestion could hamper both productivity and logistics efficiency,” he said.Urban planners note that the bypass could also benefit Pune city by reducing spillover traffic and ensuring smoother freight connectivity to major highways. PMRDA officials maintain that early completion of the measurement exercise will allow it to finalise land acquisition in phases, helping avoid the disputes and litigation that plagued similar infrastructural projects in the region.Mahesh Bhiware, lawyer, activist and a regular commuter, said, “Work has to be completed within two years otherwise the traffic situation will go beyond management. The current conditions are absolutely worse and regular commuters suffer.”Computation Exercise Likely Before DiwaliThe bypass will provide an alternate corridor for heavy vehicles and container trucks that currently clog Chakan’s narrow internal roadsLocated along Pune-Nashik highway, Chakan is a hub for automobile majors, auto ancillary units, and logistics operations which contribute to massive freight movementHowever, the town’s road network is under severe strain for years, with bottlenecks and snarls a daily ordeal for industrial workers and residents.For Chakan, which has long lived with traffic gridlock as the price of industrial growth, the bypass promises long-awaited relief.