Building Pune: NHAI begins work to build 2 new bridges over Mutha river, respite for those travelling on Mumbai-Bangalore highway soon

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will thus lay the foundation stone for the expansion of the bridge on the river this Saturday.

The project includes adding lanes on either side of the existing two-lane bridge in both directions. Union Highways and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will preside over the ceremony to lay the foundation stone.

“The project, costing Rs 52.68 crore, will cover a 1.605 km stretch on the bypass, where two four-lane bridges will be constructed on both sides of the existing bridge. There will also be two underpasses, along with ten minor bridges over nallahs and two canals, which will help in developing a missing service road that will connect Sinhagad Road to Warje along the bypass,” said an NHAI official.

The NHAI has identified black spots on the bypass at Bhumkar Chowk, Navale Bridge, Mutha Bridge, Bavdhan, and Wakad. “The rectification of these black spots includes completing missing links of service roads, constructing foot overbridges for pedestrians at Bhujbal Chowk and Chandni Chowk, and building major bridges at the Mula and Mutha rivers,” the official added, noting that the work has been divided into two projects for more efficient and speedy construction.

The first project covers a 5.95 km stretch, including Bhumkar Chowk, Navale Bridge, Bavdhan, Wakad, as well as foot overbridges at NDA Chowk and Bhujbal Chowk. This part of the project is estimated to cost Rs 27.54 crore and includes a bridge on the Mula River in Wakad.

The second project, which is larger in scope, spans from Warje to Narhe and includes the construction of two bridges on the Mutha River.

The work falls within the Khadakwasla Assembly constituency, represented by BJP legislator Bhimrao Tapkir, and the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, represented by NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule.

The demand for the bridge was initially raised by Sule in 2019, pointing out that while the construction of the multi-level flyover at Chandni Chowk would ease traffic at the junction, it would also increase traffic flow along the Warje stretch of the bypass, as the existing river bridge was too narrow to accommodate the increased volume.

The traffic situation in Warje worsened after Chandni Chowk’s traffic was streamlined, leading to a cascading effect that caused jams on the bypass. Vehicles began entering the Warje area in search of alternate routes to their destinations. This stretch has also seen several accidents recently. “Sule took up the issue with Gadkari, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar also intervened to push for the faster implementation of the project,” said former NCP (SP) corporator Sachin Dodke from Warje.

Additionally, the foundation stone for the four-laning of the existing two-lane, 13.25 km stretch from Dive Ghat to Hadapsar and the widening of a section of Palkhi Marg will be laid by the NHAI.