Building Pune: PMRDA to redevelop roads damaged due to metro rail construction from Maan to Shivajinagar

It is estimated that the work will take five years to complete and will involve redevelopment of four lanes on either side of the 25km-long metro corridor, besides construction of parking lanes, bus bays, footpaths, cycle tracks, traffic rotaries, and islands, among others.

“A consultant is being appointed for the purpose and is supposed to come up with a detailed survey, providing for design of pavement, structures, and various components of road, preparation of detailed estimates, detailed drawings, and planning for utility shifting…” he further said.

Annirudha Pawaskar, Chief Engineer, PMC, said, “There was a discussion on redeveloping the roads on which the elevated metro from Maan-Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar is being constructed. The roads were damaged, so it was decided to develop them as ideal roads with standard norms. However, the decision on who would redevelop was not taken as the metro route passes through areas of various government jurisdictions, including MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation), PMRDA, and PMC.”

“Later, we thought that since the redevelopment of roads would be as per fixed standard norms, then it should be done by one agency, PMRDA, or otherwise separate government organisations would undertake it separately for the road in their respective areas. This would not help achieve the objective of redeveloping roads with the same norms,” he added.

The PMRDA said the consultant will have to carry out a detailed survey of the existing right-of-way, existing carriageway, and pavement conditions. A route alignment survey also needs to be carried out, taking into consideration the land acquisition required.

“It should map out subsurface utilities up to a depth of 6 metres while differentiating between subsurface utilities such as live electric cables, metallic utilities, and other utilities using Ground Penetrating Radar,” it said, adding that the traffic count survey should be carried out with the next 10 years in mind.

NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule had criticised Pune authorities following the recent flooding in Hinjewadi owing to the drainage system getting blocked by debris from the metro construction. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also directed the PMRDA to undertake road repair work on a war footing.