Pune: Bridge Ready, Questions Remain as Residents Seek Clarity on Keshavnagar–Kharadi Opening

Pune, May 27, 2026: After nearly a decade of delays, protests and commuter hardships, the long-awaited Keshavnagar–Kharadi bridge in Pune is finally nearing completion, bringing hope of major traffic relief for residents of Keshavnagar, Manjari, Mundhwa and nearby areas.

The bridge project, which has been discussed since around 2015 during rapid real-estate expansion in the area, was frequently highlighted by developers as a key infrastructure project expected to improve connectivity between Keshavnagar, Kharadi and Amanora. Along with the proposed bridge, developers had also promoted plans for a railway underpass connecting Amanora to Keshavnagar and wider Development Plan roads in the locality.

While the bridge structure is now largely complete and direction signboards have been installed, confusion and frustration continue among residents over repeated barricading and closure of the route by authorities. Members of the Mundhwa Residents Forum alleged that barricades placed near the bridge are repeatedly removed by citizens due to the lack of clarity regarding its opening.

Residents have criticised authorities for poor communication and called the situation an administrative failure, stating that people are unaware whether the bridge is officially operational or still under restricted access.

The project is considered crucial because Kharadi lies barely 200 metres across the river from many Keshavnagar residential complexes, while Amanora is located at a similarly short distance. However, due to the absence of proper connectivity, commuters were forced to take long and heavily congested routes for years.

The Keshavnagar–Manjari belt has witnessed rapid urban growth over the past decade, with large township projects, high-rise towers, housing complexes and educational institutions emerging across the area. Residents say infrastructure development failed to keep pace with the rising population.

Several housing societies and citizen groups had staged protests over the last two years, including symbolic demonstrations, sarcastic banners and awareness campaigns, demanding faster completion of the bridge and related road infrastructure.

Until now, commuters travelling between Kharadi and Keshavnagar largely depended on the Chanchala Kodre bridge, resulting in severe traffic congestion at Mundhwa Chowk and Mahatma Phule Chowk. Many residents also risked using a narrow check-dam road near the garbage depot and Kalyani R&D area to avoid traffic snarls, despite safety concerns during the monsoon.

Residents pointed out that even after the bridge becomes operational, the area still lacks sufficient internal connector roads. The road stretch between Tukai Mata Mandir and Renuka Mata Mandir currently acts as a major bottleneck, especially during office and school peak hours.

Urban planners and local residents have suggested developing alternate roads from areas near Z Corner Petrol Pump, SNBP School, the old Orbis School area and dead-end stretches near Graffiti Elan and Glover projects to improve traffic flow. Citizens have also proposed a future parallel road corridor along the railway line between Manjari Railway Station and Hadapsar Railway Station to ease pressure on existing roads.

Apart from road connectivity, residents are demanding improved public transport, feeder bus services to Metro stations, better traffic management at Mundhwa Chowk, road widening, removal of encroachments and completion of the pending Amanora–Keshavnagar railway underpass project.

Citizens have also sought better civic infrastructure including streetlights, CCTV coverage, PMC water supply improvements, gardens, sports facilities, libraries and public healthcare centres.

Residents now hope that authorities will complete the remaining infrastructure projects in a planned manner and prevent the area from facing long-term congestion and urban planning issues in the future.