Sadhu Vaswani Flyover Project in Pune Accelerates as Slum Relocation Begins

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Sadhu Vaswani Flyover Project in Pune Accelerates as Slum Relocation Begins

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Pune’s long-awaited Sadhu Vaswani Flyover project is finally gaining momentum as the relocation of slum residents begins. This crucial step paves the way for the demolition of the aging bridge, which has been a vital route for commuters for over five decades. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made the decision to tear down the old bridge and construct a new, modern flyover to accommodate the increasing traffic needs of the city.

This project aims to enhance safety and improve the overall traffic flow, addressing the long-standing issues faced by commuters in the area.

Now, the final obstacle for the construction of the Sadhu Vaswani flyover has been overcome, allowing the long-awaited demolition and rebuilding of the bridge to commence. After facing several delays, the project is now ready to move forward rapidly, with the relocation of 121 slum units starting on Thursday.

This development will enable the demolition work to progress, effectively tackling the city’s escalating traffic issues stemming from the bridge’s deteriorating condition.

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The Sadhu Vaswani flyover has served commuters for over 50 years. However, its structural integrity has weakened over time, creating a significant risk to traffic safety.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had already planned to demolish the aging bridge and replace it with a new, modern flyover to address the city’s growing traffic demands. Nonetheless, the project encountered major delays, mainly due to the need to relocate slum residents who were living on land necessary for the bridge’s reconstruction.

The demolition work for the Sadhu Vaswani flyover started with the removal of structures on the Koregaon Parkside. However, on the other side, near the Circuit House, a slum with 121 units has been blocking the project. Although construction efforts were ongoing, the relocation of the slum residents had not begun, which stalled the demolition work. This delay caused increasing frustration among local residents and commuters who have been dealing with the unsafe conditions of the bridge.

Now that the relocation process has started, the situation is expected to improve. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has successfully arranged for the slum dwellers to move to Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) buildings in Shinde Vasti, Hadapsar, providing them with proper housing. This relocation marks a significant milestone for the project, as it will finally allow for the second phase of the flyover’s demolition to proceed.

The residents of the slums will begin their move on Friday, and new electricity meters have already been installed in their SRA homes. This relocation will allow for the demolition of the remaining buildings along the bridge’s route, facilitating the construction of the new flyover without further delays. With this issue resolved, construction is set to accelerate, and the new bridge is expected to be finished in the coming months.

The estimated cost of the project is approximately Rs. 83 crore, and the construction of the flyover will occur in stages. The municipal corporation has already started demolishing sections of the old flyover, focusing on the Koregaon Park side of the bridge. The rest of the demolition will be carried out once all the slum residents have been relocated. Yuvraj Deshmukh, the chief engineer of the project department, stated, “We have cleared all the major obstacles for this flyover project. It has taken a considerable amount of time to implement. Now that the relocation process is finished, we will start work next week.”

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