Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Renovation work on the existing Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Pune highway via Ahilyanagar has remained stalled, leaving nearly 50 per cent of the route riddled with potholes. Around 20,000 vehicles are forced to navigate the damaged stretch daily.
Frequent traffic congestion and poor road conditions have made travel on the highway increasingly difficult. Heavy jams are reported every day at Nevasa Phata, Wadala, Ahilyanagar (Daund Phata), Supa, Shikrapur, Perne, Ranjangaon and Wagholi. Due to traffic bottlenecks and heavy movement of trucks and four-wheelers, a journey that should take five hours is now taking nearly eight hours, causing frustration among commuters.
To address the issue, the government has announced a new greenfield highway connecting Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. However, no decision has yet been taken regarding alignment or land acquisition.
Last year, the government announced Rs 35 crore for repairs on a 39-km stretch, but only limited work has been completed so far. According to Public Works Department sources, flyovers of nearly 1 to 1.5 km length are urgently needed at eight junctions, including Nevasa Phata, Supa and Wagholi.
Currently, stretches including Kaigaon, Devgad, Nevasa, Ghodegaon, Pandhari Pul and the ghat section up to Ahilyanagar remain heavily damaged.