Grade separator to be delayed

“We have completed 40 per cent of the work,of just Rs 5 crore. There have been several technical problems and those pertaining to permission. Permission to remove a transformer and some land acquisition at Kalaniketan chowk is causing a delay,’’ said Pune Municipal Corporation OSD Vinay Deshpande.

The project funded under the Centre’s JNNURM is set to make it a signal-free chowk to ease traffic on Shivaji Road,Wellesley Bridge Road and Ganeshkhind Road. It’s a three-stage project. With traffic diverted the work is undertaken accordingly. The work started in October last year and was slated to be over in 18 months. From removal of water lines to uprooting of trees with court permission,there have been delays.

“There were huge water lines and shifting them took time. Permissions took more time,’’ said executive engineer of the project Vijay Shinde. Permission from the water supply department to shift water lines and tests to check the new pipelines took a lot of time. Shinde said pipelines were old and even getting the appropriate diameter for the new lines took time. Uprooting trees needed court permission and we have finally got it and work will be carried out accordingly.

With four major roads,University Road and Wellesley Road that towards Shivajinagar district court and the Jungli Maharaj Road and Sancheti Bridge Road that join the Boat Club Road and the Pune Regional Transport Office near Sangam bridge,converging on the junction,the area now sees a lot of congestion. “There are constant traffic snarls. The grade separator should ease the situation,’’ said a traffic official.

With traffic diverted to make it one way,those wanting to reach Sancheti from Jungli Maharaj Road have to go via Shimla office junction and this is inconveniencing many. “Earlier it had direct access. With the work on,a lot of distance has to be covered and there are huge traffic snarls,’’ said Nivedita Sane,who had to frequent Sancheti hospital from Deccan and had to take the detour.