Flyover on Pune University Chowk May Miss Mid-August Deadline
Flyover on Pune University Chowk May Miss Mid-August Deadline
Pune, May 21, 2024: Commuters should prepare for continued traffic disruptions on Ganeshkhind Road, as the highly anticipated double-decker flyover from University Chowk to the E-Square junction is poised to miss its mid-August completion deadline.
Sources within the state government disclosed on Monday that authorities are considering seeking an extension until November to finish the flyover, which is a crucial component of the Pune Metro’s third line, being executed by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
“The proposal for extending the deadline will be presented at the next Pune Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (PUMTA) meeting. The decision will be finalized there,” an insider revealed, attributing the delay to pending permissions and the upcoming heavy monsoon season.
The mid-August target was originally set to minimize inconvenience for commuters on the frequently congested Ganeshkhind Road, a vital artery for those traveling between the city and the IT hubs in Hinjawadi, Baner, Balewadi, Maval, and parts of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
However, with construction likely to extend into the monsoon season, the challenges for motorists are expected to continue. Although PMRDA officials have not publicly commented on the delay, sources indicated that slow approval processes have contributed to the project’s lagging schedule. “The monsoon will only exacerbate the situation, making an extension inevitable,” the source noted.
MLA Siddharth Shirole stated that the PUMTA meeting will finalize the new deadline after the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections is lifted. “We will conduct a review meeting with the Pune guardian minister, and if an extension is necessary, it will be decided then”.
Currently, only 65% of the work on the entire metro line has been completed, with the project expected to be operational by March 2025. Given the slow progress and the impending assembly and local corporation elections, meeting the original deadline appears increasingly unlikely, according to the source.
An extension for the entire metro line might also be requested from the state and central governments, the source added. The PMRDA is implementing the Pune Metro Line 3, which spans from Maan-Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, under a public-private partnership model that includes design, build, finance, operate, and transfer components. The 23-kilometer metro line will feature 23 stations.
The continued delays in the construction of the flyover and metro line underscore the complexities and challenges faced by large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in urban environments with heavy traffic and regulatory hurdles.
