Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said in the assembly the land acquisition funds for the proposed road work in PCMC and PMRDA limits would be released on a priority basis to expedite the work.The issue of traffic congestion in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits because of pending road construction works came up for discussion in the assembly on Thursday. BJP’s Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge said over 60,000 new vehicles were added to the PCMC’s vehicle count during last Diwali, but residents were facing traffic snarls on a daily basis in the absence of an adequate road network.Landge said, “Several road projects, including the Pune-Nashik road going through the PCMC areas and ring road, were sanctioned, but the land acquisition for these projects has still not been completed. Unless the entire land acquisition happens, there will not be a complete road network in the PCMC areas and residents will continue to suffer from traffic congestion. Therefore, I demand the state govt draw a time-bound programme to acquire land for these projects and complete them within the deadline.“Responding to the issue, chief minister Fadnavis said, “These are some of the important projects and the state govt will give funds to acquire land for these. I will personally hold a meeting to discuss the issue with the officials concerned and ensure that funds are released at the earliest. The PCMC will have to arrange some funds. The govt will direct the civic administration to make necessary arrangements for it.“Minister of state for urban development Madhuri Misal on Thursday said in the assembly the govt was preparing a traffic plan for the PMRDA (Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority) areas to ease traffic movement.“The cancellation of PMRDA’s development plan will not affect the road work in the area much. The chief minister told the authorities to carry out strategic planning. Accordingly, 24 metres and 18 metres wide roads are being proposed. The work for the traffic plan has already been undertaken,” Misal said.
