Pune's New Sadhu Vaswani Bridge Faces Construction Delays, Revised Timeline Announced
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced a revised timeline for the construction of the new Sadhu Vaswani Bridge, aiming to complete a significant portion of the project within the next four months, before the onset of the monsoon season. This update comes after the civic body acknowledged that its original deadline of March will not be met.
Technical Pipeline Issues Cause Major Slowdown
Officials have identified technical complications in laying a water pipeline beneath the railway tracks as the primary cause for the slowdown over the past few months. Although the execution plan was revised to address these hurdles, the adjustments have pushed the overall project timeline back by at least two months. A PMC official elaborated, stating, "We evaluated several options to overcome the technical difficulties associated with the pipeline installation. A revised plan is now being finalised after extensive consultations."
The official further noted that while the pipeline issue caused significant delays, other construction work continued concurrently. "We have now approached the railway administration to coordinate the construction of the span over the tracks and are currently awaiting their finalised plan," the official added.
Critical Infrastructure to Alleviate Traffic Congestion
The new Sadhu Vaswani Bridge serves as a critical replacement for the old, demolished structure. Designed to double the capacity of its two-lane predecessor, the new four-lane bridge is seen as a vital solution to chronic traffic congestion in the Koregaon Park area. Since construction began, commuters have faced significant hardships due to:
- Heavy traffic restrictions
- Mandatory rerouting
- Persistent delays and diversions
Currently, vehicular movement remains diverted to alternative routes, leading to persistent calls from local residents and road users for the project's swift completion.
Commuters Express Growing Impatience and Concerns
Commuters in the area are growing increasingly impatient with the prolonged construction timeline. Ashok Singh, a regular traveller through Koregaon Park, highlighted that the project has already spanned two years. "The work must be completed before the monsoon to save road users from the ongoing hardships we've endured. Navigating these diversions during rain will be a nightmare," he stated emphatically.
Local residents and daily commuters have voiced their frustrations, emphasizing the urgent need for the bridge's completion to restore normal traffic flow and reduce congestion in the densely populated Koregaon Park neighborhood.
The PMC remains committed to expediting the remaining work, with a focus on overcoming the technical challenges and coordinating effectively with railway authorities to meet the new pre-monsoon target.
