PMC gets SC nod to complete its 3.2-km riverside road

Dismissing the appeal filed by city-based NGO Parisar, the Supreme Court on Friday paved way for Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to complete the 3.2-km riverside road from Mhatre Bridge to Jayantrao Tilak Bridge, which is 70 per cent complete.

The Bombay High Court in November last year gave its ruling in favour of the PMC, allowing it to go ahead with the construction, giving Parisar to appeal within eight weeks.

"The Supreme Court has dismissed Parisar's appeal and also rejected its plea to give a stay to the PMC on going ahead with the construction of the road," said Manjusha Idhate, PMC legal advisor. She said the PMC can now complete the riverside road and construct an alternative road to go to Karve Road or Sinhagad Road. "The apex court decision in favour of the PMC is a good thing and we can complete the road on priority basis as it would help in tackling traffic on the existing roads," said Pramod Nirbhavane, additional city engineer.

The civic administration would float tenders for the construction of the remaining 30 per cent of the road, he said, adding, "The road is 60 feet wide and can be further widened to 80 feet."

The PMC General Body (GB) meeting had approved the construction of the road in 1993 following which the state too had cleared the proposal. In 2002, Parisar had objected, saying that the road was not mentioned in the development plan (DP). The organisation had also said the project would affect the environment.

Parisar approached civic and district courts. In March 2008, the civic court had rejected the petition and the civic body had commenced work. The court again issued a stay order, but by then the PMC had already completed 70 per cent work.

Environmentalist Prashant Inamdar said the PMC should not be jubiliant over getting the verdict in its favour.

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