Traffic Woes Deepen as Paud Phata Flyover Lane Shuts for a Month; Citizens Fume Over Bhide Bridge Closure
Traffic Woes Deepen as Paud Phata Flyover Lane Shuts for a Month; Citizens Fume Over Bhide Bridge Closure
Commuters in Pune are bracing for more travel disruptions as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced the partial closure of the Swatantryaveer V. D. Savarkar flyover at Paud Phata for urgent repair work. Starting 27 October, one lane of the bridge—specifically the stretch heading from Nal Stop towards Kothrud—will remain shut until 26 November 2025, officials confirmed.
According to PMC Chief Engineer (Projects), the repair work is part of essential maintenance aimed at improving road safety and structural integrity. During this period, the remaining lane will stay open but will be restricted only to two-wheelers and light motor vehicles (LMVs) to ease local traffic flow. Heavy vehicles have been advised to take alternate routes, and the civic body has appealed to citizens for patience, acknowledging the inconvenience caused.
However, frustration among residents has grown after another traffic bottleneck emerged elsewhere in the city — the Bhide Bridge closure. The bridge, a key connector in central Pune, was briefly reopened for the Diwali season, only to be shut down again soon after, reportedly due to ongoing Metro construction work in the vicinity.
Civic activist Vivek Velankar slammed the decision, calling it “a reflection of poor planning and complete disregard for public convenience.” He reminded that the bridge had first been closed on 21 April for 45 days to accommodate Metro-related construction, with the project originally slated for completion by mid-June. Yet, repeated deadline extensions—to 15 August and later 10 October—have stretched the timeline to over 175 days, leaving the work far from complete.
During the Ganesh festival, the bridge saw a temporary reopening, but it was closed again on 9 September for another round of work. Although it was accessible between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. during Diwali, the post-festival closure has reignited public anger among commuters and local residents.
Many citizens have accused PMC and the Pune Traffic Police of giving Metro authorities unchecked control over the bridge. “The bridge seems to have become Metro’s private property,” remarked Samarth More, a resident of Sadashiv Peth. “The project that was supposed to take just 45 days has dragged on for nearly six months. Roads are already filled with potholes and detours—this arbitrary closure is adding fuel to the fire.”
More also questioned the logic behind constructing another pedestrian bridge near Bhide Pul when an existing one nearby remains underused, calling it a wasteful expenditure of public money. Echoing similar sentiments, Velankar urged PMC to reopen the bridge for daytime traffic and restrict Metro construction activity to night hours to minimize disruption.
Residents have now demanded greater transparency and accountability from both PMC and Pune Metro officials regarding project timelines and coordination. So far, neither authority has issued a clear update on how long the Bhide Bridge will remain closed.
