Pune: The civic body has set a Jan deadline to complete the flyover at Vishrantwadi Chowk and open it to traffic. Once operational, the flyover is expected to ease the commute towards Lohegaon airport by allowing vehicles to cross the junction in less time.Around 80% of the flyover work has been completed so far. However, work at the main junction is progressing slowly for various reasons.Officials of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said some structures near the junction need to be removed to make way for the flyover.“We are working on plans to relocate these structures and holding regular discussions with stakeholders to resolve the issues,” a civic official said.The flyover construction has occupied considerable road space along the Alandi Road and Tingrenagar-airport road stretches. Regular commuters said the barricading has reduced the carriageway width significantly, making travel during peak hours difficult.Besides the flyover, which descends towards Tingrenagar-airport road, PMC is also constructing a grade separator across the junction. It will cater to vehicles coming from Alandi and heading towards Regional Transport Office (RTO) or Bombay Engineer Group (BEG).“Work on the flyover and grade separator is progressing simultaneously. While the flyover is expected to be ready by Jan, the grade separator will take another two months and is likely to be completed by March 2027. Both facilities will ease traffic congestion considerably at the main junction. The administration has taken into account the alignment of the proposed Metro viaduct in the area while designing the flyover and grade separator. We hope the Metro project will not face any hurdles related to alignment or construction,” a PMC official said.Regular commuters said construction work has been under way for more than a year and has caused considerable inconvenience.“Commuters are facing immense difficulties frequently at Vishrantwadi Chowk because of the ongoing work. Crossing the junction has become particularly risky for pedestrians. The administration needs to complete the work within the stipulated deadlines and resolve all land-related issues at the earliest,” said Piyush Rane, a local resident.The local traffic police branch said additional personnel have been deployed at the junction in two shifts to regulate traffic and prevent vehicles from stopping unnecessarily.PMC approves Rs 76.8 crore flyover in Wakdewadi railway subwayThe PMC standing committee on Thursday approved a Rs 76.8 crore proposal to construct a flyover at the Wakdewadi railway subway.“The flyover will be built above the railway subway and is expected to ease traffic movement between Sakhar Sankul and the old Mumbai-Pune highway,” standing committee chairperson Shrinath Bhimale said.A proposal to appoint an agency to execute the project was tabled before the committee.Other proposals approved by the committee included a payment of Rs 23.11 crore to Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) towards concessions and discounts offered on bus passes to students, senior citizens, journalists and PMC employees.The committee also approved Rs 9.63 crore for the ‘Vidyavardhini Model Schools’ project, aimed at improving infrastructure in the schools.
