The much-awaited Lavanya to Raheja Link Road in NIBM Annexe has finally been opened by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) after years of delay due to land acquisition issues. The road's opening brings relief to the local residents who have been suffering due to the lack of connectivity.
The road project was pending for years due to alleged corruption in the land acquisition department, which was accused of deliberately delaying the process despite crores of rupees being spent on compensation. Citizens of the area had been pointing out the corruption and demanding urgent intervention to complete the project.
In a significant development, citizens had petitioned the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), highlighting the issue and seeking their intervention. The petition, addressed to the PMO by activist Jaymala Dhankikar, dated January 1, 2025, urged immediate action to acquire the land and complete the road construction without further delay.
The citizens' efforts paid off, and the PMC finally took action to remove the encroachments and complete the road project. The opening of the road is a testament to the power of citizen activism and the importance of holding the government accountable.
“The residents of NIBM Annexe, Mohammadwadi area, are finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as the new road will greatly improve their quality of life. The PMO and CMO’s efforts to complete the project are appreciated, and it is hoped that the corporation will continue to prioritise the needs of the citizens in the future, which it currently is not doing due to large-scale corruption and a lack of accountability. We complained about the deliberate delay and made the PMO and CMO aware. After that, PMC got exposed and had no option but to follow the law,” she said.
In the letter addressed earlier to the PMO and CMO, dated October 10, 2024, Dhankikar accused the department of gross negligence, enabling land mafia to encroach upon public land meant for DP (Development Plan) roads.
She drew attention to the road connecting Raheja Premiere to Kadnagar Chowk - an officially designated DP road that remained blocked by illegal sheds erected by private landlords. Despite repeated complaints, the road and land measurement and compensation departments within the PMC failed to take any concrete action, claim the residents.
"We are thrilled that our efforts have finally paid off and the road is now open," said Ashok Mehendale, a resident of NIBM Annexe. "We hope that the PMC will learn from this experience and prioritise transparency and accountability in its dealings," he added.
