Pune, 18 July 2025: The construction of the pedestrian bridge at Chandni Chowk, being undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has been ongoing for nearly a year. So far, only the foundation work for the pillars has been completed. The project was initially expected to be finished by the end of December 2024, but even after seven months past the deadline, work is still in progress.
Interestingly, construction of the main bridge has not even begun. In the meantime, pedestrians are risking their lives to cross the road. Many are now questioning whether the NHAI will only wake up to the urgency of the situation after a serious accident occurs.
The National Highways Authority has awarded the bridge construction contract to the company ‘MD Infra’. In over seven months, only the erection of pillars has been completed at the site. The pedestrian bridge, expected to cost around ₹7 crore, will be 125 meters long and 6.6 meters wide. It is to be built between the Pashan area and the bus stop in the direction of Mumbai. However, the structural work of the bridge has not even started yet.
Thousands of citizens cross the road at Chandni Chowk every day. The road sees a heavy flow of vehicles. Fortunately, no accidents have occurred while crossing the road so far, but the delay in the bridge construction is a serious concern for public safety.
The National Highways Authority had promised that the bridge would be opened to the public by March 2025. However, it is now likely that the work will take at least another four months to complete.