The construction of Pune's controversial Balbharti-Paud Phata Road will proceed as planned, as the Bombay High Court has dismissed a plea filed by the charitable trust Nagrik Chetna Manch. The plea had challenged the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) decision to construct the road through a designated green zone in the heart of the city.

The Balbharti Road project has faced criticism as Punekars, united under the banner of Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), took to the streets in 2023. The 2.1km-long road, initially proposed in the 2007 development plan of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), has encountered opposition from environmentalists and locals. They argue that the project would harm the city's greenery, particularly as it cuts through Vetal Tekdi, one of Pune's last green bastions.

The VTBKS had earlier demanded the cancellation of this project. Several candidates in assembly and Lok Sabha polls had supported the environmentalists, including BJP MP Murlidhar Mohol. However, the verdict has come as a setback to the movement.

Meanwhile, Punekars are raising their voices against the verdict and deciding on the next step to be taken.

Punekars react

Prajakta Divekar, a member of Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), said, "We are grateful to Nagrik Chetna Manch for keeping this fight alive since 2006. The recent HC order is on their PIL filed in 2022. We are still studying the order. It is true that the case was disposed of, but the larger point is that the road is not in the public interest as PMC claims it to be. The project has huge public opposition. Tekdi is such a vast green space, so we can't let it be destroyed for short-term goals. We will see now what course of action will be."

A bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharti Dangre ruled that the project had undergone due deliberation and expert review. Noting that the petitioner is not an expert in city development, the bench emphasized that city planning decisions should be left to the appropriate authorities.

Advocate Anjali Helekar, representing the petitioner, submitted that between 1994 and 1996, the once rocky and barren land of Law College Hill was transformed into a dense forest through afforestation efforts. Advocate Abhijit Kulkarni, appearing for the PMC, opposed the petition, arguing that the land in question is not a natural forest but a man-made one.

One of the members of the VTBKS team said, "A few days back, the HC concluded this case, and we have had two aspects questioning the legality of the tender for DPR and due process under the HC order of 2006 not being followed. Bombay HC recently disposed of this case. The order allows PMC to carry on with the feasibility study and construction activity after getting some NOCs. It puts great faith in PMC's ability to decide in public interest. The order is not what we expected, but there is no reason to feel disheartened. We have shown great perseverance by keeping our fight for Vetal Tekdi on, and we will continue the same. If Vetal Tekdi is saved and preserved, the whole city and its future will benefit. PMC needs to see where the real public interests lie."

A road from Earth to the Moon

Chaitanya Ket, a Kothrud resident, said sarcastically, "PMC, as the planning authority, followed the 'due process' and marked a road from Earth to the Moon. Scientists raised concerns, stating that such a road was impossible to construct due to the lack of necessary technology. They warned that the project would lead to immense damage and a colossal waste of public funds. Determined to prevent this absurdity, the scientists approached the court. After reviewing the case, the court ruled that since PMC was the designated planning authority, it was competent to assess the feasibility of the project. The court further stated that if the road was included in the Development Plan (DP), there was no reason for judicial interference. After all, this road serves the larger public interest, the judgment declared."

Rohan Aaron, a resident of Wagholi, said, "The court has expressed its inability and lack of expertise to address the environmental concerns mentioned. It relies on the Expert Committee and consultants' reports, which supposedly have duly addressed environmental concerns through their Environmental Impact Study and traffic study. Have these reports been published? Any idea?"