Pune: PMC Clears Slums to Accelerate Sadhu Vaswani Bridge Construction
Pune: PMC Clears Slums to Accelerate Sadhu Vaswani Bridge Construction
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has successfully removed a major obstacle in the construction of the Sadhu Vaswani Railway Bridge, which connects Koregaon Park and the VIP Guest House area. Over 100 slum structures near the guest house have been cleared, paving the way for the demolition of the old, unsafe bridge and the construction of a new one.
The current bridge, over 50 years old, had become hazardous for daily commuters. The PMC had allocated ₹83 crore for the new bridge, which serves as a key route for vehicles traveling to Nagar Road, Hadapsar, Pune Station, and Swargate. Thousands of vehicles used the bridge daily, and its closure has caused inconvenience to commuters. Traffic police have since implemented alternative routes to ease congestion.
The demolition was delayed due to the presence of nearby slums. The PMC had been working for months to rehabilitate the slum dwellers, relocating them to Survey No. 132 in Hadapsar. Some residents initially resisted, but after discussions with officials, the relocation was completed. As of now, 50% of the slum removal work is done, with the remaining structures expected to be cleared soon.
PMC confirmed that with the site now accessible, the bridge construction will proceed at full speed.
