Pune: The civic administration is in the process of appointing consultants or expert advisors to study the proposed road tunnel connecting Pashan-Panchavati and Kothrud. The consultant will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) and recommend the necessary steps the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will need to take before appointing an agency to carry out the actual construction work.The tunnel has been proposed to reduce travel time between Pashan and Kothrud by providing an alternative route to existing road links. It is among several tunnels proposed at various locations in the city to address growing traffic congestion.As per the preliminary plan, the tunnel will begin at Sutardara in Kothrud and connect to roads in the Panchavati area on the Pashan side. The exact alignment and access roads will be determined as part of the detailed study. The entire project is expected to span around 3km, including the tunnel and connecting roads.Officials said a pre-feasibility survey was conducted a few months ago. The administration is now initiating the process of appointing consultants or experts to prepare the DPR. The study is expected to provide greater clarity on the technical aspects of the project, including its alignment.Sources said the project, involving construction through hill areas, will require several permissions, no-objection certificates (NOCs) and environmental clearances. A detailed study of the land required for the project, including land belonging to govt establishments and private landowners, will also have to be carried out. The proposal will have to clear all necessary regulatory and procedural requirements before construction can begin.Residents, however, have questioned the need for the tunnel and raised concerns about its feasibility and potential impact on the hills, local flora and fauna.Nilesh Jadhav, a Pashan resident, said the PMC must ensure that the project does not adversely affect the area’s environment, biodiversity and green cover.“The administration should not proceed with the project in a haphazard manner. Any construction that causes environmental destruction would defeat the very purpose of providing a solution to traffic congestion,” he said.
