Pune Residents Protest Against PCMC’s Harit Setu Project

Residents from the Nigdi Pradhikaran area of Pune staged a significant protest on Wednesday against the ongoing Harit Setu (Green Bridge) project initiated by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Carrying black flags, demonstrators blocked Hutatma Chowk, expressing their frustration over what they describe as severe traffic congestion, environmental damage, and safety hazards associated with the project. Local leaders and various political party representatives joined the protest, threatening to escalate their actions unless immediate corrective steps are taken by the municipal administration.

The protest, organized by the Nigdi Pradhikaran Resident Foundation (NPRF), commenced at 17:00 near Anand Hospital in Sector 26–27. “We demand the cancellation of the Harit Setu project. Residents suffer daily due to the chaos created by these oversized footpaths and unplanned construction work,” stated Chandrakant Kothari, a local resident and one of the event’s organizers.

Residents accuse PCMC of imposing the Harit Setu design without adequate public consultation. They highlight that the project includes unusually wide footpaths on roads measuring 45 and 54 meters. Locals report that these footpaths have been misused, turning into spaces for beggars, makeshift dining areas, illegal parking, and hawkers, thereby undermining the intended pedestrian-friendly design.

“The whole project reeks of gross incompetence or extreme corruption,” asserted one resident. Another emphasized that traffic congestion continues to worsen, stating, “Wider footpaths won’t magically reduce traffic unless the public transport system improves.”

Critics of the project pointed out that while Pune Municipal Corporation is reducing oversized footpaths, PCMC is expanding them despite clear objections from the community. One resident remarked, “The planners are not in touch with reality. People need footpaths, yes, but vehicle numbers will not suddenly disappear. Improve buses and trains first, then build these massive pedestrian spaces.”

Concerns over safety have also been raised. Sonali Shinde, a resident, highlighted the increased traffic around schools in the area, noting that careless parking has turned the vicinity into a dangerous zone for children. “Cars are parked carelessly near the nursery, blocking the road, and vehicles speeding from Big India do not see those turning from Durgeshwar Road. It’s a terrifying accident-prone zone now,” she warned.

Activist Yogesh Babar, who has opposed the project since its inception during the tenure of Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, stated, “Over 90 percent of Pradhikaran residents are against it. PCMC has started the work without public consultation. Roads are in total chaos now.” He warned of an escalation in protests if action is not taken, including a potential meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Former PCMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anil Roy criticized the project’s execution, stating, “There is no accountability in the execution of Harit Setu. Public amenities like walking and cycling paths are good, but they are being created by shrinking major roads.” He expressed concern about the misuse of these spaces by hawkers and vendors, adding that community feedback has been overwhelmingly negative.

Local leaders, including Aaba Takawane, Raju Misal, Amit Gawade, and Bala Danawale, condemned PCMC for compromising the town’s original planning. They noted that the once well-organized Pradhikaran, inspired by the Chandigarh layout, is now marred by traffic disruptions caused by the new footpaths.

The Harit Setu project has been awarded to M/s BG Shirke Construction Technology, with M/s Prasanna Desai Architect as the urban designer and M/s Pavetech Consulting Engineering Services as the project consultant. The work order was issued on October 7, 2024, with a total project duration of 24 months. Initially, the project’s tender cost was ₹160.27 crore, but the accepted tender amount is ₹133.01 crore, indicating a reduction of 17.01 percent. As of now, the civic body reports a billing amount of ₹17.03 crore.

Progress on the project is ongoing, with work currently taking place on multiple roads, including stretches designated H1, H2, H3, H4, and others. Reports indicate that 17 percent of the physical work and 12.80 percent of the financial progress have been completed so far. In total, the Harit Setu project spans 30 roads of varying widths, covering 20.195 km of road length and 358,382.5 square meters of development area.

As the protest continues, residents remain firm in their demand for accountability and a re-evaluation of the Harit Setu project, highlighting the need for public consultation and effective urban planning that prioritizes community needs.