Pune: The Maharashtra State government has given the green signal to dismantle the Savitribai Phule Pune University flyover. The Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) has sent a letter to the Pune Municipal Corporation for its approval.
While speaking to Sakal Times, Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said, “PMRDA has sent a letter seeking PMC’s approval. We discussed the matter with the party leaders for approval. They are insisting on tabling a proposal in the general body meeting. Now, the civic administration will table the proposal in the standing committee meeting.”
In the second week of May, PMRDA sent a proposal to the state government to dismantle the flyovers to build the PMRDA-Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro Railway Route.
It was based on instructions of Deputy Chief Minister and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar in April to prepare a plan for PMRDA and Tata Company, which has got the contract for the PMRDA metro route.
In the meeting, Pawar also assured PMRDA to give all necessary permissions to dismantle the flyovers from the state government’s different departments.
Pawar wanted to dismantle the Pune University flyovers during the lockdown to avoid traffic congestions. Now, the State has given its approval.
New two-tier flyover
The existing flyover length in the University Chowk is one kilometre, and its width is 12 metre in width. The new two-tier flyover will be 1.7 km while its upper level will be for the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar metro while the lower level will be for BRTS and private regular traffic movement. The lower level will be a four-lane flyover.
Sour history
This particular flyover has been in the eye of criticism since they were constructed by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in 2006. The MSRDC then had suggested that 25 flyovers should be constructed to solve the problem of traffic congestion in various parts of the city. PMC had approved 20 flyovers of which only six have been completed so far.
A few NGOs working towards urban planning and citizens rights had demanded the demolition of flyovers and strengthening of public transport as a solution to traffic problems in the area.
Metro Line 3
The proposed Metro line 3, a public-private partnership (PPP) project will connect Hinjewadi, the sprawling IT hub on the fringes Pimpri-Chinchwad, to Shivajinagar. Earlier a group of PWD engineers had taken objections against dismantling this flyover for the PMRDA Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar metro railway route.
