07 September,2026 10:20 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Shiv Sena MP Shrirang Barne has opposed the project. Pic/Special Arrangement
Shiv Sena MP Shrirang Barne has criticised the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) over the construction of wide footpaths under the âHarit Setu' project in Nigdi Pradhikaran, saying the work has reduced road space and added to traffic congestion.
Barne visited the area after residents raised objections to the ongoing work and spoke to local people about their concerns. He said civic development projects should be planned after taking the requirements of residents into account.
Residents Raise Parking and Traffic Concerns
Residents said several older houses in the Pradhikaran area do not have dedicated parking spaces, resulting in vehicles being parked along internal roads.
According to Barne, the problem has become worse as footpaths have been extended to occupy nearly half the width of some roads.
"There is no opposition to properly sized footpaths that make it convenient for citizens. However, people should not be inconvenienced in the name of development," Barne said.
He warned that if the civic administration continued the work despite residents' objections, people could eventually be forced to remove the newly constructed footpaths themselves.
Barne also questioned the need for what he described as excessive beautification and design elements in civic projects. He alleged that crores of rupees were being spent on works that reduce the available road space.
He called for an audit of earlier beautification projects to assess how many trees planted under such schemes survived and whether public money had been used effectively.
Barne said complaints had already been submitted to the PCMC Commissioner and concerned officials. He said he would also send a formal letter to the municipal commissioner opposing the current planning of the Green Corridor works.
Local residents have also started a digital campaign against the newly constructed footpaths.
Ramesh Kataria, a resident, said the project had reduced road space and caused congestion in the area.
"The newly constructed footpaths under the Harit Setu project have reduced the available road space, resulting in severe traffic congestion and disturbing the peace of the area," Kataria said.
He said residents were not demanding that the footpaths be removed completely, but wanted unnecessarily extended sections to be redesigned.
Another resident, Pushkar Patke, said the residents wanted narrower, more functional footpaths rather than the cancellation of the project.
"Nobody here wants to destroy or abolish the footpaths. We are only asking for modifications to the existing design," Patke said.
Patke said some stretches had excessively wide footpaths, leaving insufficient space for vehicles and parking.
"We want narrower footpaths and wider roads to ease traffic and provide adequate space for movement and parking," he said.
He also objected to outward-projecting design structures, saying they further reduced parking and road space.
"We do not want fancy, outward-protruding designs. We want simple, functional and level footpaths that leave sufficient space for vehicles to park," Patke said.
Residents have also raised concerns over the extensive use of concrete under the project. Patke said they were not seeking cancellation of the entire Harit Setu project, but practical modifications to its design.
According to him, residents have faced difficulties in getting the contractor to make the requested changes.
Barne has urged the PCMC administration to consult residents before implementing infrastructure projects and to prioritise essential civic works over excessive beautification.
The controversy comes amid growing demands from residents for a balance between pedestrian infrastructure, traffic movement, parking and environmental considerations in the city's redevelopment projects.
