Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi on Wednesday announced a total ban on road-digging by utility agencies on routes designated for the Pune Grand Tour (PGT) cycling race after September. Utility providers, including Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL), must secure all necessary permissions and complete their underground work before September, he said. The directive follows reports that several roads improved for the inaugural 2026 event were dug up shortly after the race and repaired with substandard patches.
Strict Enforcement Across Municipal Corporations
“We have communicated this strictly to both the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC),” Dudi said. “The goal is to ensure that the high-quality roads constructed for this event remain durable and serve the public long after the cyclists have passed.”
Massive Route Expansion Planned
The road improvement programme is tied to a massive expansion of the PGT. The route is set to grow from 437 km in 2026 to a staggering 1,099 km in 2027, requiring the strengthening and development of 662 km of new road sections across the district.
“The roads are not being built just for a cycling race. Rather, the tour is the ‘trigger’ to deliver world-class, durable roads within a strict timeframe. This will benefit local residents and boost regional tourism,” he said. Work is scheduled to begin in July, with a firm completion deadline of September, Dudi told TOI.
Cost Estimates and Funding Allocations
According to estimates presented before district authorities, the road works required for the expanded route could cost nearly Rs 900 crore. Of the proposed expenditure, the public works department (PWD) is expected to allocate Rs 362 crore, while the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) will contribute Rs 240 crore. PMC will undertake improvement works on around 85 km of roads and PCMC on approximately 35 km. An additional Rs 35 crore is expected from the District Planning Committee (DPC), taking committed allocations to well over Rs 500 crore.
Route Details for 2027 Edition
According to the presentation prepared for the event, the Pune Grand Tour 2027 will feature six stages covering 1,099 km across 331 villages in 11 talukas, compared to four stages covering 437 km across 148 villages and eight talukas during the inaugural edition in 2026.
The expanded route is aimed at showcasing a wider geographical spread of Pune district and will pass through destinations such as Junnar, Bhimashankar, Shivneri, Dehu-Alandi and the Pavana backwaters. The proposal also includes areas linked to the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh circuit. The event is scheduled between January 26 and January 31, 2027.
Stage-wise Route Plan
- Stage 1: Pune, Purandar, Rajgad and Haveli (176 km)
- Stage 2: Baramati, Purandar and Saswad (169 km)
- Stage 3: Junnar and Rajgurunagar (153 km) – new addition
- Stage 4: Alandi-Lonavala stretch (175 km)
- Stage 5: Khandala, Mulshi, Maval and Pimpri Chinchwad (200 km)
- Stage 6: Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune (198 km)
The collector said the expanded event would significantly increase the race’s reach into rural Pune and position it among the largest cycling tours in the country.
