03 December,2025 09:05 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
The protest was held on Wednesday evening near Anand Hospital in Sector 26–27.
Hundreds of residents from the Nigdi Pradhikaran area under the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in Pune staged a protest on Wednesday against the ongoing work of the Harit Setu (Green Bridge) project.
Carrying black flags, angry locals blocked Hutatma Chowk and warned that they would intensify their agitation if the civic administration did not take immediate corrective action.
Leaders from various political parties, citizen groups, and local associations joined the protest, alleging that the project has created severe traffic congestion, environmental damage and safety hazards, and has been imposed without public consent.
The protest, organised by the Nigdi Pradhikaran Resident Foundation (NPRF), began at 5 pm near Anand Hospital in Sector 26-27.
"We are demanding the cancellation of the Harit Setu project. Residents have been suffering daily due to the chaos created by these oversized footpaths and unplanned construction work," said Chandrakant Kothari, a local resident and one of the organisers.
Residents slam PCMC for âforcibly' implementing the project
Locals claimed that despite widespread opposition, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is forcefully executing the Harit Setu design, which includes unusually wide footpaths on 45-metre and 54-metre roads.
Residents alleged that these footpaths have already turned into spaces for "beggars, makeshift dining areas for restaurant hutments, illegal parking and hawkers," defeating the purpose of pedestrian-friendly design.
"The whole project reeks of gross incompetence or extreme corruption," said one resident.
Another added, "Traffic jams occur because there are too many vehicles and no real plan to shift people to walking, cycling or public transport. Wider footpaths won't magically reduce traffic unless the public transport system improves."
Residents also pointed out that Pune Municipal Corporation is reducing oversized footpaths, while the neighbouring PCMC is expanding them despite clear objections.
"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. Otherwise, this is just common sense gone wrong," remarked a resident.
Another citizen questioned the rationale behind the project: "Nobody even demanded Harit Setu. Many areas in PCMC still lack proper roads and drainage. Why spend crores on cosmetic work?"
Accidents and safety concerns rising
Locals also highlighted growing safety risks.
Sonali Shinde, a resident, said that traffic heading from Big India towards Mukai Chowk has increased drastically, especially near the school for the hearing and speech impaired.
"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.
âOver 90 per cent residents oppose the project'
Yogesh Babar, an activist and resident of Sector 24, said he has been opposing the project since it was first proposed during the tenure of Commissioner Shravan Hardikar.
"Over 90 per cent of Pradhikaran residents are against it. PCMC has started the work without public consultation. Roads are in total chaos now. Footpaths are encroached by cars, two-wheelers, and hawkers, reducing the carriageway and causing traffic jams. If the work isn't stopped immediately, we will escalate the protest and meet Deputy CM Ajit Pawar," he said.
âNo accountability in execution': Former PCMC officer
Former PCMC Chief Medical Officer, Dr Anil Roy, also criticised the project.
"There is no accountability in the execution of Harit Setu," he told mid-day.com, adding, "Public amenities like walking and cycling paths are good, but they are being created by shrinking major roads. These spaces are being misused by hawkers, vendors, and nomads. I recently posted a video of the footpath work near Anand Hospital Chowk - there were dozens of comments against the project and even remarks on the poor-quality work."
Local leaders say Pradhikaran's charm has been lost
Local leaders, including Aaba Takawane, Raju Misal, Amit Gawade, and Bala Danawale criticised PCMC, stating that the once well-planned Pradhikaran - modelled on the Chandigarh layout - has now lost its beauty.
"This area houses major establishments, schools and colleges. The new wide footpaths have created massive traffic blocks daily and disrupted the original town planning," they said.
About Harit Setu project details (as shared by civic officials)
The Harit Setu project has been awarded to M/s BG Shirke Construction Technology, with M/s Prasanna Desai Architect appointed as the urban designer and M/s Pavetech Consulting Engineering Services serving as the project consultant. The work order for the project was issued on October 7, 2024, and the total duration of the project is 24 months.
The project's original tender cost was Rs 160.27 crore, while the accepted tender amount stands at Rs 133.01 crore, reflecting a reduction of 17.01 per cent. Till date, the civic body has recorded a billing amount of Rs 17.03 crore. According to officials, work is currently underway on H1 concrete road, roads H2, H3, H4, and stretches H10/16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, along with H10/07, 08, 09, 10, where street footpath development is progressing. The project has achieved 17 per cent physical progress and 12.80 per cent financial progress so far.
The project spans 30 roads of varying widths - from 15 metres to 54 metres. These include 7250 metres of 15-metre roads, 770 metres of 18-metre roads, 5380 metres of 24-metre roads, 630 metres of 30.5-metre roads (H2), 2450 metres of 45-metre roads (H1), and 900 metres of 54-metre roads (H9). The area also includes 72 alleys (2.5 metres wide) covering a combined length of 2,815 metres. The total project covers 20.195 km of road length and 3,58,382.5 sq m of development area.
Out of this, 13 roads - measuring 7 km - are currently under construction. Completed portions include 1.75 km with both sides developed and 5.19 km completed on one side.
