Pune, 9th March 2026: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday announced that the newly built double-decker flyover at University Chowk will be named after the late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the integrated flyover at Anand Rishiji Chowk near the main entrance of Savitribai Phule Pune University. The event was held through a video-conferencing system.
Fadnavis said the decision to demolish the old flyover at the junction and construct a modern double-decker structure had faced criticism and several technical challenges. However, he said Ajit Pawar ensured the project moved forward by taking stakeholders into confidence.
“Ajit Pawar convinced everyone and pushed the project ahead despite the hurdles. Considering his contribution to building this technologically advanced flyover that will ease Pune’s traffic congestion, it should be named after him. The formal naming process will be completed soon,” Fadnavis said.
Deputy Chief Minister and Pune guardian minister Sunetra Pawar said traffic congestion on Ganeshkhind Road had been a long-standing issue for residents. She noted that the earlier bridge near the university had become insufficient due to the city’s growing traffic.
“The old bridge could no longer handle the increasing traffic. The decision was taken to replace it with a modern double-decker flyover using advanced technology. Even during the Covid period the work continued while ensuring minimal inconvenience to citizens, which helped complete the project in record time,” Sunetra Pawar said.
Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol also remembered Ajit Pawar’s role in Pune’s development projects and said he was closely associated with many key infrastructure works in the city.
“It feels unfortunate that this inauguration is happening without him. The flyover was conceptualised under his leadership and therefore it should be named after him,” Mohol said.
The ₹277-crore flyover is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in key areas including Shivajinagar, Aundh, Baner and Pashan. Officials believe the new structure will improve traffic flow along Ganeshkhind Road, one of Pune’s busiest corridors.