Building Pune: Ten more double-decker bridges proposed by Pune civic body in city

The double-decker bridge at Nal Stop on Karve road is jointly constructed by PMC and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro) and is currently operational. The double-decker bridge on Ganeshkhind road is being jointly constructed by PMC and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), developing the metro rail route from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar.

The double-decker bridges have been proposed at Mundhwa Mahatma Phule chowk, Kalubai chowk on Solapur road, Dandekar Pul chowk, Wagholi Awhalwadi chowk, Ambedkar chowk in Warje, Kothrud Bus depot in Bhusari colony, Golibar Maidan chowk, Viman Nagar chowk, Wanowrie Fatimanagar chowk and Ravidarshan in Manjari.

The civic body has sought financial assistance for the construction of the first floor of the bridge and requires Rs 60 crore for Mundhwa Mahatma Phule chowk, Rs 35 crore for Kalubai chowk on Solapur road and Rs 45 crore for Dandekar Pul chowk.

“The double decker bridges in parts of the city have been proposed on routes of the elevated metro. This has been done as no infrastructure project can be taken up after construction of elevated metro routes on city roads from where the metro route is passing,” said Yuvraj Deshmukh, Chief Engineer of PMC.

The metro routes pass through city roads and taking up any infrastructure work like flyovers, underpasses or grade separators to cater to increased vehicular traffic in the future will not be possible due to elevated metro having big pillars on the road and bridge on the top, he said.
Deshmukh said, “A feasibility study is being done by the civic body to ascertain the use of taking up the flyover bridge construction with metro route.”

Pune Metro Executive Director Hemant Sonawane said, “Pune Metro is always ready to construct flyovers for the civic body wherever it is necessary.” Sonwane added that the construction of the flyover on the same pillar as the elevated metro is beneficial to the civic body as they only have to bear the cost of the flyover. “The Pune civic body will have problems developing road infrastructure with the metro routes so it makes sense to have an advanced plan for both,” said Sonawane.

Incidentally, the flyover constructed by PMC on Sinhagad road faced opposition from citizens alluding to the metro route proposed on the road. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, while laying foundation stone for the flyover project, had urged the PMC to explore the possibility to construct a double decker flyover with the metro route but the ruling state govt went ahead with a single-flyover construction.