PMC road plan gets a fillip

The proposal to construct 12-meter wide roads on either side of the Mutha river bank stretch between Mhatre bridge and the Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) Deccan Gymkhana bus terminus causeway was pending for the past four years.

The proposed roads are expected to ease the traffic flow on the busy Karve road. However, their construction was delayed owing to paucity of funds. Also, the PMC had sought technical opinion over the project as it was being feared that the roads may get washed away during monsoon.

According to the report tabled by the consultants – Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), the possibility of “tarred roads” getting washed away during rainy seasons has been ruled out. A 500-meter long stretch of tar road, constructed on an experimental basis along the Mutha river banks near the Omkareshwar temple, had remained intact despite the floods last year.

However, the roads would remain submerge in water and would be of no use during monsoon.

As the consultants have given a green signal and funds have been made available the administration has speeded up the project work. The PMC would soon invite tenders from private parties to undertake the construction of roads which is estimated to cost around Rs 2 crore, Keskar said.

In a bid to ease the traffic flow on Karve Road, the PMC proposes to construct three approach roads – near the Mhatre bridge, Karve Road ward office back side and the MES bridge, linking Karve road to “submersible” road. Two other approach roads to the “submersible” road – one near the Omkareshwar temple and other near the PMT causeway, have also been proposed.The PMC has already channelised the 4 km river stretch between Mhatre bridge and Sangman Bridge. The work on channelising the river from Mhatre bridge to Vitthalwadi will be undertaken this year at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore. Besides, Rs 1 crore have been provided for desilting the river.