Study 6–7 alignment options before finalising underground tunnel plan: PMRDA

Pune: The PMRDA has directed its consultants to evaluate six to seven alignment options for the proposed Rs32,000-crore underground tunnel network before finalising the detailed project report (DPR) for the same. The directive was issued during the 19th review meeting of the Pune Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (PUMTA) on Thursday, chaired by divisional commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar.
The underground project was originally conceived as a 54km north–south corridor linking Yerwada and Katraj. However, officials have now asked consultants to reassess the start and end points and explore whether the network should include additional high-congestion stretches, including potential east–west connectivity."We have asked for six to seven options, including realigning the project to cover more congested areas," said PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase. "When a project is pegged at ₹32,000 crore, it must be truly beneficial for citizens. We cannot finalise the DPR until the feasibility and ratings for these options are clear and convincing."The project has undergone repeated scrutiny. Consultants were previously told to strengthen the pre-feasibility report using third-party mobility data and robust traffic projections. Commissioner Pulkundwar emphasised that any final alignment must be backed by comprehensive surveys mapping "origin-destination" patterns and directional flow."The core objective is a meaningful reduction in traffic for both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Interventions must be planned in the larger public interest," Pulkundwar said. The "paatal lok" (underground) approach has been a key vision of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has long advocated for subterranean roads as surface infrastructure reaches saturation point. He has urged officials to expedite the DPR, viewing the tunnels as the only long-term solution to the city's gridlock.Maha Metro managing director Shravan Hardikar, who attended the meeting via video conference, said the tunnel alignments and exit points must be synchronised with the city's parking policy to ensure smooth traffic dispersal.Officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Maharashtra Infrastructure Development Corporation, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Pune Municipal Corporation, traffic police and town planning departments were present.PMRDA officials confirmed that final costs, funding patterns, and execution timelines will be determined once the revised pre-feasibility report is reviewed.