Comprehensive Road Development in the City is Essential – Commissioner Shekhar Singh

Pimpri-Chinchwad  | Pimpri-Chinchwad is among the fastest-growing metropolitan cities, and the Municipal Corporation is focused on implementing long-term and balanced solutions to tackle urban issues. Road development in the city should not be limited to easing traffic alone, but must ensure that these spaces are accessible, safe, and inclusive for all, stated Commissioner Shekhar Singh.

A three-day conference and training session on Sustainable Urban Mobility has been organized by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) at the Auto Cluster in Chinchwad. Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh inaugurated the session and guided the attendees during the event.

Present at the event were senior officials including:
Commissioners Gaurav Kumar (Lucknow), Sudhir Kumar (Kanpur), Jayendra Kumar (Ayodhya), Sipu Giri (Saharanpur), Deputy CEO of Uttar Pradesh Urban Road Development Department Arvind Kumar Srivastava, Additional Commissioner of Nashik Municipal Corporation Pradeep Chaudhary, PCMC Chief Engineers Sanjay Kulkarni, Pramod Ombhase, Co-City Engineer Bapusaheb Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner Anna Bodde, Special Officer Kiran Gaikwad, Assistant Commissioner Umesh Dhakane, Executive Engineers Sunil Pawar and Abhiman Bhosale, IT Officer Sudhir Borude, and Public Relations Officer Prafull Puranik, among others.

Commissioner Shekhar Singh emphasized that road planning often focuses only on easing traffic and accommodating vehicles. However, roads are not meant solely for cars and two-wheelers. Pedestrians, cyclists, senior citizens, children, and the differently-abled also use roads. Making roads safe for all these users is a true indicator of a city’s development. Hence, all roads must be treated equitably.

Constructing footpaths or widening roads is only part of the solution. Initiatives like “Urban Streetscape” and “Green Connect” are vital in making public spaces more vibrant, active, and inclusive. These areas should be usable for walking, cycling, and play, not just for beautification, but to promote inclusivity, Singh added.

Municipal Corporations should explore new financial models to support these urban initiatives. The Green Bond is a prime example. PCMC has raised ₹200 crore through India’s first municipal green bond, which is being utilized for the Green Connect project in the Pradhikaran area. Additionally, low-emission zone concepts are being gradually implemented.

He stressed the need to view roads not just as construction projects, but as spaces that serve the people, the environment, and the city’s future health.

A detailed digital presentation was given on various PCMC projects:

• Architect Prasanna Desai presented on the Green Connect initiative

• Pranjal Kulkarni of ITDP on Urban Streetscape

• Kanan Vijay on the Integrated Command Control Center

• Pratap Singh Bhosale on Road Traffic Planning and Inclusive Road Design

• Vikas Thakare on Construction Planning

• On-Site Project Visits by Officials

To gain hands-on insights into road design and NMT (non-motorized transport) projects, officers from multiple cities visited development works in Pimpri-Chinchwad. They reviewed traffic management strategies on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, PC College–Patil Road, experimental works under the Green Connect project, G.D. Madgulkar Natyagruha in Akurdi, Punawale Chowk, Rakshak Chowk in Sangvi, Sai Chowk, and the Linear Garden in Pimple Saudagar. Officials were briefed about ongoing and well-planned development works during these visits.