G20 Summit Looms as Incomplete Riverfront Development Project Raises Concerns

 "G20 Summit Kicks off as Incomplete Riverfront Development Project Raises Questions in Pune"

Pune: G20 Summit Marred by Unfinished Riverfront Development in Pune: A Missed Opportunity for the City"

The city of Pune was set to showcase its development and progress on a global stage as it played host to the G20 summit. However, as the summit began on Monday, a glaring issue came to the fore – the pilot project of riverfront development planned for the summit remained incomplete.

According to civic officials, only 60% of the nearly 300-metre-long stretch proposed to be developed for the pilot project on either side of the Mutha river has been completed. The works on one side of the river have been finished, however, those on the other side are still underway. The laying of drainage lines is expected to be completed soon, but it's not clear when the whole project will be finished.

The 300-metre-long stretch near Chima Carden, Bund Garden was selected as a sample stretch to give an idea about the whole project. The scope of the work included basic civil works such as laying the gabion wall, development of promenade, and landscape, and lighting for decoration. However, these plans were hampered by the discovery of a hard rock while digging, causing delays in laying service lines at a section.

According to PMC officials, the civic administration had planned to undertake these works on both sides of the river when the project was planned. But one section was cancelled as it couldn't have been completed. Even the reduced section of the project could not be completed before the summit, which is a missed opportunity for the city to showcase its progress and development to the world.