Pune-Sambhaji Nagar Expressway Project Stalled: Finance Department Questions Cost And Necessity

In a fresh clash between bureaucrats and politicians, the Finance Department has questioned the necessity of the Pune-Sambhaji Nagar Greenfield Expressway project, which was recently submitted for cabinet approval. The department raised concerns about the project's financial viability, noting that the state is already committed to a series of high-cost infrastructure projects.

According to the Finance Department, the cumulative cost of ongoing projects is approximately Rs 2,88,000 crore. The department argued that given these significant financial commitments, it would be prudent for the government to complete existing projects before embarking on new ones. They warned that the proposed expressway would further strain the state's financial resources.

Project Details

The Public Works Department (PWD) had proposed the construction of a 250-kilometer access-controlled expressway between Pune and Sambhaji Nagar. The project, estimated to cost Rs 12,500 crore, also includes a land acquisition expense of Rs 3,200 crore. This ambitious plan was to be executed by the newly established Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC).

In response to the Finance Department's objections, the state cabinet decided to defer the greenfield expressway proposal. Instead, it approved two smaller projects: the Pune-Shirur six-lane elevated road at Rs 7,515 crore and a road connecting Shirur, Ahmednagar, and Sambhaji Nagar for Rs 2,050 crore. These projects are seen as more manageable steps within the larger Pune-Sambhaji Nagar route.

Lack Of Supporting Documentation

The Finance Department also criticised the proposal for lacking essential documentation, such as a detailed map. They questioned the necessity of the new expressway in light of existing roads and national highways, suggesting that the PWD should provide clearer evidence of the need for the project.

The department highlighted several other ongoing road projects, including the Versova-Virar coastal road at Rs 33,054 crore, the Revas-Redi coastal highway at Rs 9,572 crore, and the Konkan Greenfield Expressway at Rs 70,300 crore, among others. The total cost of these projects amounts to Rs 50,000 crore, further illustrating the state's financial commitments.

Previous Disputes

Recent months have seen a series of disagreements between bureaucrats and ministers. For instance, the additional chief secretary of the agriculture department, V Radha, clashed with Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde over a Rs 1,400 crore project intended to distribute nano urea and nano DAP to farmers. The project was stalled, and Radha was reassigned to a different department.

Similarly, the Finance Department had previously expressed concerns about the Ladki Bahin scheme, a significant initiative aimed at supporting underprivileged women. Despite warnings that the scheme could severely impact the government's financial stability, it was approved with a substantial allocation of Rs 35,000 crore for the current financial year.

The ongoing tensions between the Finance Department and state officials highlight the challenges of managing large-scale infrastructure projects within the constraints of available resources.