The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has set an ambitious four-month deadline to complete the long-awaited Suncity-Karvenagar vehicular bridge over the Mutha river. This crucial infrastructure project is expected to significantly decongest the perennially clogged Sinhagad Road by offering a direct route for commuters heading towards Kothrud and Karvenagar.
From Stalled to Accelerated: Resolving the Land Acquisition Impasse
Construction on the bridge originally commenced in January of last year, with an initial target for completion set for May this year. However, progress hit a major roadblock nearly a year ago. While the main span of the bridge across the Mutha river was largely finished, work came to a complete standstill due to unresolved land acquisition issues for the approach roads on both banks.
The project has now received a fresh lease on life. A civic official confirmed that the majority of the required land for the approach roads has been successfully acquired. "Negotiations with private landowners concluded successfully, allowing us to accelerate the remaining work," stated a senior official from PMC's projects department. With this critical hurdle cleared, construction on the approach roads, stalled for almost a year, has finally resumed.
A Sigh of Relief for Harried Commuters
The completion of this bridge is eagerly anticipated by thousands of daily commuters. Currently, the Rajaram Bridge serves as the only crossing over the river in this area, leading to persistent and severe traffic bottlenecks on Sinhagad Road. The new Suncity-Karvenagar link is seen as an indispensable alternative to distribute vehicular flow more evenly.
"First, technical issues delayed the work, and then land acquisition problems brought it to a halt. We hope the approach roads are completed properly so that the bridge can serve the maximum number of commuters," said Ashok Kadam, a frequent commuter, echoing the sentiments of many.
Local residents have long suffered due to the lack of alternative routes. Gautam Patil, a Sinhagad Road resident, noted that traffic jams are a regular nuisance. He believes the new bridge will provide much-needed relief. From Karvenagar, Vijay Shinde highlighted the benefit of a direct link to Sinhagad Road, which will eliminate lengthy detours. "I just hope that the construction is finished within the scheduled timeline," he added.
The Road Ahead: A Timeline for Traffic Relief
The PMC authorities are now confident that no further major obstacles stand in the way. The senior projects department official affirmed, "We anticipate no major obstacles in completing the project within the next four months." This timeline promises to bring tangible relief to one of Pune's critical traffic corridors by early next year, fulfilling a long-standing demand from the city's western suburbs for better connectivity.
