Authorities can now move forward with acquiring the land under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013, after the Bombay High Court lifted the stay on the land acquisition needed to build the approach road for the Balewadi-Wakad bridge over the Mula River.

In order to complete the approach road to the bridge that connects Balewadi and Kaspate Wasti, landowner Ankush Balwadkar filed a writ case demanding compensation and a stay on the acquisition of his property. On December 8, 2025, the High Court had already issued a stay.

Advocate Satya Muley intervened in Balwadkar's writ petition on behalf of the petitioners in PIL 106 of 2024 Abhijeet Garad and Sandeep Mandloi, pointing to the High Court's earlier ruling that had mandated the immediate purchase of the land. He maintained that the Mula River divides the communities of Wakad and Kaspate Vasti in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation from Baner and Balewadi in Pune Municipal Corporation. These neighborhoods have seen tremendous economic development, building, and population growth over the last 20 years.

The High Court said, "There is no denying the urgency of the situation regarding the construction of an approach road to the bridge across the Mula-Mutha River. Although the bridge has already been built, the approach road is still unfinished, the public cannot use it. The general public's predicament was brought to light in PIL No. 106 of 2024, where authorities were required to fulfill requirements and get the required amount of land to enable development.

In accordance with the process outlined in the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, the PMC has declared that it is prepared to deposit the necessary proportionate compensation with the land acquisition officer.

Advocate Muley also emphasized the region's deteriorating traffic conditions, pointing out that people in Balewadi, Baner, and Wakad deal with serious traffic jams on a regular basis. Due to the bridge's absence, travelers must use Radha Chowk to cross the crowded Mumbai-Bangalore Highway, which adds 5–6 kilometers to travel time and increases travel time by 40–60 minutes. This wastes both time and fuel. The alternate route from Vishal Nagar is inconvenient, which disproportionately affects Wakad residents who work in Balewadi and Baner.

The PMC and the state were instructed by the High Court to start the purchase procedure right away in compliance with the legislation and the terms of the 2013 Act through the collector and the relevant land purchase officer. The acquisition needs to be finished as soon as possible, but at least a year from the order date.

Advocate Satya Muley, speaking on behalf of the petitioners, stated, "This is a curious case, as the PIL regarding the bridge was widely reported, but the landowner did not come forward at that time, and the PMC did not report any difficulties." It was the PMC's responsibility to notify the court of the previous PIL 106 of 2024, where a land purchase was previously mandated under the urgency clause, now that the writ case was filed requesting a stay. We'll keep an eye on things to make sure the bridge is accessible to the public as quickly as feasible.