PMC plans flyover to decongest key bottleneck spots at Shimla Chowk, Agriculture College Junction

Besides, the Shivajinagar railway station, state transport bus stand and the bus stand of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) are in the vicinity, leading to further congestion at Agriculture College Chowk, Shimla Office Chowk and Sancheti Chowk on Ganeshkhind Road.

Dinkar Gojare, in-charge of the Traffic Management Department in the city, said over 600 state transport buses ply on the route every day as the bus stand is in Shivajinagar. “They enter and exit through the three junctions. Besides, buses starting from Swargate stand and heading towards Ahmednagar or Mumbai pass through these junctions. The proposed flyover will allow state transport buses to avoid the three junctions. Similarly, other private vehicles will be able to skip the junction when headed to destinations within the city or to Mumbai or Ahmednagar,” he said.

The flyover starting at Agriculture College Junction will pass through Sakhar Sankul and will be Y-shaped – with one landing for vehicles travelling from Pune to Mumbai on the Old Mumbai-Pune highway and other branches on the same road heading towards Ahmednagar Road and Alandi Road, officials said.

There will be an additional branch for vehicles to enter the flyover at Sakhar Sankul that would enable vehicles from Shivajinagar railway station, ST bus stand and PMPML stand, as well as vehicles coming from the old part of the city to easily reach the road to Mumbai or Ahmednagar.

He said the land required for the project will be easily available as it is owned by various government departments. “The green cover on this land can also be saved as the flyover will be aligned in a way that the trees don’t get affected,” said Gojare.

The PMC is appointing a consultant to design the project and take up the work once it is approved.