Bridges not too far now

For, the Pune Cantonment Board PCB has decided to convene a meeting of all stakeholders in a bid to push forward the plan that has been stuck for a long time.

The Pune Municipal Corporation PMC will construct the two railway overbridges for the convenience of citizens.

The project has been stuck due to involvement of too many agencies in it. The railway overbridges require part of the land belonging to the PCB along with a clearance from the Central Railways.

The civic body has planned to build a 650-metre overbridge from Ghorpadi market to the Bank of Maharashtra building and a 500-metre-long one from Ghorpadi Maket to Bhairoba nullah, at an estimated cost of Rs 70 crore.

8220;Residents of Ghorpadi have been for long demanding the railway overbridges to resolve the traffic chaos in the area. I have called a meeting of all stakeholders to make headway into the project,8221; Brigadier R J Sharma told The Indian Express.

He said discussions were held on the issue with the PMC Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale who has been urging the civic body to speed up the matter.

Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale said that efforts are being made to remove all the glitches in the proposed plan so as to get it started by December end.

The army is keen on starting work on the bridge this month, before Lt General Noble Thamburaj moves to Delhi to take charge as Army Vice-Chief on January 1.

8220;The main obstacle is from a resident getting affected with the project. I have decided to personally meet the resident and look into the issues raised for the rehabilitation,8221; she said.

The PMC administration, however, said it was prepared to take up the work for the construction of the railway overbridges and is awaiting the Central Railway8217;s approval.

8220;The designs of the railway overbridges were submitted to the Central Railway. But, they have sought some changes in the plan and our consultants are working on them,8221; V R Patil, in-charge of special projects JNNURM Cell, said.

However, Divisional Regional Manager D K Jain said the PMC had withdrawn its earlier plan after the civic administration was asked to change the alignment. 8220;The new plans are yet to be submitted to us. Only after the new plans are assessed will the Central Railway give its clearance,8221; he said.