In the initial phase, work on a 3.7-km stretch between Sangamwadi and Bund Garden was prioritised and approximately 90% of the work is complete. The 1.5-km Sangamwadi portion is ready in all respects. Expansion is underway on other sections — including a 5.5-km stretch from Bund Garden to Mundhwa and an 8.1-km stretch between Aundh and Balewadi. The PMC plans to develop various civic amenities, including theme parks, along the riverfront, said civic officials.PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said, “The project will provide residents with a natural environment equipped with modern amenities for walking, cycling and recreation.”Environmentalist Prajkta Divekar said that the way it is being implemented, the Pune RFD is a vanity project. “It is neither rejuvenation nor is it connecting people to rivers. It is just a permanent construction on the banks. The project is disruptive, because it destroys the existing diversity of the ecosystem along the banks and imposes an unnatural uniformity. The PMC should have just revived the river, protected and preserved biodiversity, while carving recreational spaces for children and families. A large amount of money is being spent on little gains,” she said.Critics have said the RFD project would significantly impact the river’s ecosystem, potentially leading to increased flooding during the monsoon season. Additionally, it could be primarily driven by real estate development. The project is divided into phases, with stretches like Sangamwadi to Bund Garden and Bund Garden to Mundhwa being prioritised.Earlier in Jan, over 2,500 citizens came together in Baner for a Chipko agitation, protesting against all projects they deem are destroying the Mula, Mutha, Pavana and Indrayani rivers.Meanwhile, civic officials said that in Nov 2024, PMC received environmental clearance for its Mula-Mutha riverfront development project, which involves embanking the river, felling trees and constructing a recreational space. Similarly, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation received clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for the Indrayani and Mula river rejuvenation project.
