PMRDA may revise cost of Ganeshkhind Road flyover due to slow progress

The construction progress of the double-decker flyover on Ganesh Khind Road in the Pune Metropolitan Region faces a potential revision in costs due to a slowdown.

The reason for the delay is said to be due to a pause in the tree-cutting following a High Court (HC) petition. The HC has been mandated to form a committee to assess the tree-cutting and submit a report.

Both the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are involved in road widening activities for the Pune Metro line near Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on GaneshKhind Road. The PMRDA, while the PMC is responsible for constructing four underpasses. However, concerns regarding tree removal prompted the HC’s intervention.

On December 22, 2023, the HC, upon hearing a petition by NGO Parisar, demanded the formation of a committee to minimize tree-cutting during the execution of road widening and the Metro rail project. This committee comprises experts from various fields, including road construction, environmental engineering, and town planning.

Following a site visit and two meetings to discuss perspectives, the committee is now expected to submit its report before the next HC hearing scheduled for April 17, 2024.

Vikas Dhakane, Additional Municipal Corporation said, ” The issue has been passed on to the High Court and until they release a statement no further decision will be taken. It is not sure how much time it will take to implement a decision.”