Archive · 13 Aug 2026
PMC Plans Sutardara-Pashan Underground Tunnel To Ease Pune Traffic
The city government of Pune, called the Pune Municipal Corporation, wants to build a tunnel underground.
The tunnel would connect two areas of the city, Sutardara and Pashan.
It would give drivers another way to travel and help make traffic less crowded.
Traffic is very heavy near Senapati Bapat Road and Anand Rishiji Chowk.
Earlier, the city wanted to build a bigger tunnel, but people worried it would cut down too many trees and damage a hill.
So the city changed the plan and is now focusing on a shorter route.
The new plan brings the tunnel closer to Loyola School.
The city will first hire an expert to study the idea and write a report.
The city hopes the report will be ready in about three months.
Many cars in Pune make the roads very busy, so the city is planning several tunnel projects.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has begun the process of appointing a consultant to prepare a Detailed Project Report for an underground tunnel between Sutardara in Kothrud and Pashan.
The tunnel is meant to provide an alternative route and ease traffic congestion in the Kothrud-Pashan corridor, especially around Senapati Bapat Road and Anand Rishiji Chowk.
The earlier Patrakar Nagar-Panchvati and Pashan-Patrakar Nagar-Senapati Bapat Road tunnel sections were dropped due to concerns over tree cutting and extensive hill cutting near Panchvati.
The revised alignment brings the tunnel closer to Loyola School, with a new road proposed under Regulation 205 to connect it with Pashan Road.
Chief Engineer Dinkar Gojare said a consultant is expected within the next month and the DPR within three months, to be submitted around January or February.
- Who
- The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), with Chief Engineer Dinkar Gojare of the PMC Project Department leading the process.
- What
- The planning of an underground tunnel connecting Sutardara in Kothrud with Pashan to ease traffic congestion.
- When
- The consultant appointment is expected within the next month, the DPR is expected within three months, and the report is to be submitted around January or February.
- Where
- Pune, along the Kothrud-Pashan corridor near Senapati Bapat Road and Anand Rishiji Chowk.
- Why
- The number of vehicles in Pune is nearly comparable to the city's population, while the expansion of the road network has not kept pace with growth.
Project proponents
Opposition over tree and hill cutting
Scope of the tunnel network
Project proponents
The earlier, larger tunnel network — including the Patrakar Nagar-Panchvati and Pashan-Patrakar Nagar-Senapati Bapat Road sections — should be pursued for broader connectivity.
Opposition over tree and hill cutting
The network should be scaled down to the Sutardara-Pashan stretch because the dropped sections lie in areas with significant tree cover and would require extensive hill cutting.
Environmental impact vs. congestion relief
Project proponents
Underground routes are necessary because rising urbanisation and vehicle numbers are putting increasing pressure on Pune's road network.
Opposition over tree and hill cutting
Alignments that require cutting trees and a substantial portion of the hill near Panchvati should be abandoned or rerouted.
- Project
- Sutardara-Pashan underground tunnel
- Implementing body
- Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)
- Purpose
- Alternative route to ease congestion in the Kothrud-Pashan corridor
- Consultant appointment
- Expected within the next month
- DPR timeline
- Within three months; report due around January or February
- Dropped sections
- Patrakar Nagar-Panchvati and Pashan-Patrakar Nagar-Senapati Bapat Road due to tree and hill cutting concerns
- Other planned tunnels
- Bhosari-Undri, Bhugaon-Rajaram Bridge, and Hingne-Taljai