The Baba Bhide causeway in the Deccan Gymkhana area of Pune will remain closed for approximately three months to facilitate Metro construction work. Commuters are advised to use the Z-bridge, Lakdi bridge, or Balgandharv Rangmandir bridge to cross the river during this period.
Closure Details
Maha Metro announced on Monday that it has received approval from the city traffic police department to keep the causeway shut until September 5. This closure is necessary for the construction of a foot-overbridge (FOB) that will be built directly above the Bhide causeway, connecting the Deccan Gymkhana Metro station to Narayan Peth.
While the causeway will be closed to vehicles, the riverside roads on both sides will remain open for traffic. Maha Metro will install signage on both ends of the causeway to alert commuters about the vehicle restriction.
History of the Closure
The Metro administration had previously closed the causeway for work last year but reopened it before the Ganeshotsav festival. After that, the causeway was open to vehicles during the day and closed only at night. Regular commuters in the area have expressed concerns about the daytime closure, stating that it should not be shut during peak hours.
Commuter Concerns
Amol Wakade, a frequent traveler in the area, said, “The Lakdi bridge is always overburdened with vehicles. The authorities must allow vehicular movement on Bhide causeway during daytime. The administration should also set a deadline to finish all pending work on the Metro FOB, which has been dragging on for many months.”
Sandeep Sakhare, another commuter, questioned how closing the key causeway would help complete the Metro work, especially since water release during monsoon could hamper progress. Officials responded that water discharge would not significantly affect the work. “We will prepare a plan according to water discharge and rainfall. There is a plan to finish the work as early as possible,” officials said.
