MIDC undertakes 368cr worth of road works in Chakan to resolve traffic issues

Pune: The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has launched a series of projects worth Rs 368 crore across all five phases of the Chakan industrial area to tackle persistent traffic congestion.A key initiative includes constructing two stretches of six-lane concrete roads, covering up to 3.5km, on the route connecting the Talegaon industrial area to Chakan. With an investment of Rs 64 crore, the project will bypass Navlakh Umbre village near Talegaon and also upgrade sections near the Nashik highway. This is expected to streamline the traffic flow between old Mumbai-Pune and Nashik highways. "Most of the work has already been completed, with the remaining portion scheduled for completion by March," an official said.
"Several road construction activities are in progress. Some will be completed before the monsoon. These upgrades will significantly improve connectivity for daily office commuters and ease travel for those heading toward Nashik," Nilesh Modhave, superintendent engineer, MIDC, said.MIDC is also set to concrete the four-lane road from the Volkswagen plant to Alandi Phata, covering a 5.7km stretch and adding asphalt shoulders on both sides. In phases 1 and 2, the agency aims to concrete nearly 15km of roads, while phase 5 will include a new 4.5km, four-lane stretch. "Work orders for most of these projects have already been issued, and around 70% of the work is expected to be completed by June 2027," another official said.Chakan, a major automobile manufacturing hub, has long struggled with severe traffic congestion affecting the daily commute of its approximately 15 lakh workers. The high movement of heavy vehicles from various manufacturing units has overwhelmed the existing road infrastructure, industry representatives said."Travelling to and from Chakan is unpredictable. During peak hours, traffic jams can last over two hours. Even foreign delegates hesitate to visit plants because of the commute," a senior official from an aviation firm said.Federation of Chakan Industries general secretary Dilip Batwal, who has raised the issue with multiple authorities, emphasised the significant loss of man-hours due to traffic delays. He also highlighted frequent accidents caused by narrow roads and the mix of heavy vehicles with regular cars and two-wheelers.