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Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Collector announces task force to speed up land acquisition in Pimpri Chinchwad
1 2 Pune: District collector Jitendra Dudi on Monday said a special task force would be set up to expedite land acquisition for various development projects, primarily roads, in Pimpri Chinchwad, with a deadline of Sept 5. A PCMC official attributed the delays to coordination between govt departments. "The district administration has prepared a plan to remove hurdles in the land acquisition process and ensure speedy implementation. A separate task force comprising officials from all departments concerned will be formed to address the issue," Dudi said, following a review meeting with PCMC commissioner Shekhar Singh and other officials involved in the acquisition process. The collector said he would personally oversee the progress through monthly review meetings. "The land acquisition process should be completed in three phases, starting with land surveys and preparing maps within a fixed timeline, followed by collecting measurement fees, completing the measurement process within the designated period and carrying out the actual acquisition," he said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune A senior PCMC official, who attended the meeting, said the task force would include officials from the district land acquisition department, land records department and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), with a designated nodal officer from the land acquisition department to oversee the entire process and organise coordination meetings. "The team will prioritise all pending land acquisition matters and expedite key steps like notification issuance, land measurement and documentation," the official said. The PCMC commissioner said around 50 land acquisition cases, mostly related to proposed road developments, were pending with the administration. "Officials have been told to prioritise land acquisition through transferable development rights (TDR) and floor space index (FSI) wherever applicable," he said. Officials said PCMC could acquire land using TDR or FSI on its own as per the rules. "Cases where landowners willingly consent to give up their land can also be managed at the municipal level. Only cases requiring compulsory acquisition, where landowners refuse to part with their land, are escalated to the collector, who is authorised to handle such acquisitions under the Land Acquisition Act," an official said. PCMC has identified 42 missing links. Another senior PCMC official said the process for the land acquisition for all these missing links would be taken up with the new task force. Apart from roads, acquisition for several other facilities like the proposed fire station in Dighi, sewage treatment plant in Punawale, and playground for children in Pimple Gurav were also discussed in the meeting. Pending key road projects Dehu to Talawade: 18m Talawade to Spine Road (Nigdi): 18m Widening of 12m service roads on both sides of the Pune-Bengaluru highway Veer Baba Chowk to Mamurdi: 18m Three roads proposed in Wakad: 36m, 24m and 30m Rahatni to Kalewadi: 12m Widening of Pune-Alandi road Road adjacent to Indrayani river in Chikhali: 18m
Time of India
23-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
136 bridges in Pune district need urgent repairs; audit of 39 done, says PWD
Pune: As many as 136 bridges under the public works department across Pune district require urgent repairs, while a structural audit of 39 bridges to assess their safety has been completed, officials told TOI on Monday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite concerns, officials confirmed that no bridge needs to be dismantled. "Structural assessments of 227 bridges are currently under way," a PWD official said. Last week, collector Jitendra Dudi directed PWD to carry out an audit of all bridges in the district after the sudden collapse of the Kund Mala bridge over the Indrayani river on June 15 raised alarm bells. Out of the district's 777 bridges — 132 major and 645 minor bridges — five have been deemed unsafe for vehicular movement. Three major ones have already been closed to heavy vehicles, while two minor bridges have been completely closed for repairs, with restrictions placed to prevent accidents, the official said. "We conducted a pre-monsoon inspection of the bridges. We are going to submit a report to the collector as per his directions." The district also has 21 heritage bridges dating back to the British era, which continue to be monitored closely. These have been repaired and there are no issues with these bridges, the report shared by PWD with TOI stated. From 2016 to 2025, the PWD report said that they repaired 111 bridges, but ongoing assessments highlight the urgent need for further maintenance on many others. Collector Dudi emphasised the importance of these efforts, assuring that the administration is prioritising safety and infrastructure resilience. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The audits and repairs will ensure that Pune's bridges remain safe for public use. We are closely monitoring the condition of all bridges and will take necessary steps to protect commuters," he told TOI. PWD has urged the public to adhere to closures and restrictions. In the aftermath of the tragic foot overbridge collapse at Kunda Mala in Maval taluka, Dudi said that any bridge found to be weak or dangerous following a structural audit will be dismantled or cordoned off to prevent future disasters. "All departments have been directed to carry out a fresh structural audit of old bridges. Those identified as unsafe must be immediately taken out of use," the collector said on Monday. "Though a structural audit was done earlier, a fresh on-ground survey too would have to be undertaken to verify the condition of these structures so that necessary action could be taken." Chief secretary Sujata Saunik has directed all collectors to conduct an audit of bridges within their jurisdictions.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Collector orders action at 42 accident blackspots
Pune: District collector Jitendra Dudi, taking serious note of the rising fatalities in road accidents across the district, has directed all departments concerned to take immediate steps to reduce accidents by addressing 42 identified blackspots. Dudi also instructed that a detailed report on corrective actions taken at each of these locations should be submitted within one month. Chairing the district road safety committee meeting at the Pune collectorate on Monday, Dudi emphasised the need for coordinated, scientific, and time-bound interventions to prevent road accidents and save lives. "Concrete steps must be taken immediately to minimise road deaths. All agencies must act within their respective jurisdictions and ensure all blackspots are addressed without delay," he said. According to data presented during the meeting, there are 42 blackspots in the Pune district — 15 within the Pune civic limits, 22 under NHAI, two each under MSRDC and PWD, and one under MSIDC. These sites recorded a high number of serious and fatal road accidents. Dudi directed that both short- and long-term safety measures be implemented at each of these locations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kia Sportage, unidades limitadas KIA Undo The measures include the installation of directional signage, barricades, clearing roadside obstructions, improved lighting, and, if necessary, restricting vehicular movement temporarily. The police and the regional transport department have been tasked with inspecting the locations and submitting a comprehensive report within a month, detailing the safety interventions implemented. "The causes of accidents that occurred in the past year must be analysed location-wise, and appropriate safety measures should be recommended. These findings can then be applied across similar areas in the district," Dudi said. He also directed the traffic police to deploy manpower to manage congestion at the Khadakwasla dam area, a known traffic choke point. Superintendent engineer Bappa Bahir presented a progress report of the works carried out under the district road safety committee through a digital presentation, highlighting improvements and ongoing interventions. Regional transport officer Archana Gaikwad stressed the need to combine engineering solutions with public awareness efforts. "Behavioural change is equally important. Citizens must know where the blackspots are and exercise caution," she said. Dudi also announced that funds will be allocated specifically for road safety awareness and infrastructure upgrades, urging local bodies to work with community groups and schools to promote safe road habits. The administration plans to adopt a multi-agency approach to address the issue comprehensively, using data-driven insights, engineering solutions, enforcement, and public engagement to ensure sustainable impact. Dudi warned that the cost of inaction could be severe. "This is not just about fixing spots on the road. It is about creating a culture of safety. Every life matters, and each department must take ownership to make Pune's roads safer for everyone," he said. The meeting was attended by Bahir and executive engineer Milind Barbhai of the public works department (PWD), regional transport officer Archana Gaikwad, and officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the police.
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rush to beat poll code: PMC pushes to float tenders before local body election announcement
With the state government beginning groundwork for holding long-pending local body elections, following the Supreme Court's directives, the Pune district administration is moving quickly to finalise tenders and initiate development works ahead of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) coming into effect. Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi recently chaired a meeting with officials from the Pune Zilla Parishad and district administration, instructing them to expedite all pre-sanctioned development works under the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC). 'The elections for local self-governments are scheduled. All departments must complete administrative and financial approvals and start the works before July 31. Once the model code is enforced, new works will be restricted,' Dudi said during the meeting. Under the MCC guidelines issued by the Election Commission, no new development tenders can be floated once the code is in force, except for essential maintenance and repair work—subject to prior approval. This has prompted all departments to prioritise finalising estimates, technical approvals, and tender documents within the limited window available. According to senior district officials, departments are working on a war footing to float tenders for various infrastructure projects ranging from rural roads and water supply to school building repairs and anganwadi upgrades. In many talukas, contractors have been informally told to be prepared to begin ground work immediately once orders are issued. The upcoming polls include elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Pune Zilla Parishad, and various Panchayat Samitis and municipal councils in the district. These elections have been delayed since 2022 due to legal issues over OBC reservation and ward delimitation. The Election Commission of India is expected to declare the local body election schedule only after September 4, 2025, once the final ward boundaries and updated electoral rolls are notified. However, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, during an event in Pimpri Chinchwad on Friday, indicated that the civic polls are likely to be held 'immediately after the monsoon and before Diwali.' PMC officials confirmed they are also working to finalise estimates and float tenders for projects under its capital budget. 'Instructions have been issued to all department heads to complete technical sanctioning and issue work orders wherever possible before the code of conduct. Projects that miss this window will be stalled for months,' a senior civic official said. Over ₹1,200 crore worth of works under the Pune Zilla Parishad and district annual plans are currently pending at various stages, and the administration is racing to ensure that maximum approvals are cleared before the code kicks in—expected sometime in late August or early September. Local political leaders have also started exerting pressure to push pending projects through before the poll code, as many hope to showcase completed or ongoing development works in their constituencies ahead of the elections.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Assam: Harang bridge at Kalain-Silchar road collapses; restoration underway
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Harang bridge at Bhangarpar on the Kalain-Silchar road in Assam collapsed on Tuesday night, causing two heavily loaded trucks to fall into the river and restoration work is underway. Further details are a bridge collapsed over the Indrayani River in Maharashtra's Pune district, killing the collapse of a bridge over the Indrayani River in Maharashtra's Pune district on Sunday afternoon, the district administration on Monday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the four individuals who lost their lives in the to Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, the announcement is part of a broader response to the incident, which saw 55 people fall into the river. Of these, 51 were successfully rescued, and 38 are currently receiving to ANI, Dudi provided an update on the situation, noting that an aerial survey was conducted today to finalise the search operation, ensuring no one remains unaccounted for."A total of 55 people fell due to the bridge collapse. Out of 55, 51 people were successfully rescued. Treatment for 38 people is still going on in the hospital. The condition of all the persons is stable. Unfortunately, four people died, and their bodies have been identified. There is no report of a missing person now. "This afternoon, we conducted an aerial survey at the spot to finalise the search operation," Dudi also outlined the formation of a probe team to investigate the collapse, comprising officers from the Irrigation Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Forest Department, and Police. "We have formed a team under the District Collector with officers from the Irrigation Department, PWD, Forest dept, and Police - to probe the incident, bring out the shortcomings, and review the existing SOPs," he said, emphasising the need to identify lapses and strengthen safety he has requested a structural report on all old bridges in the region to assess their condition and prevent future District Collector reiterated a public appeal to avoid visiting such locations during the monsoon season, given the heightened risks."Again, I appeal to the public to avoid visiting such places during the monsoon season. I have asked for a structural report on all old bridges... Financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each will be given to the families of each deceased," he added.
