Pune: The civic body and Maha Metro have begun joint inspections along the entire Vanaz–Chandni Chowk extension route to review the alignment of the Metro viaduct, locations of stations, their entry-exit points and the design of the proposed double-decker flyover at Kothrud depot.Officials from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said some inspections are likely to be held in the next few days. The exercise aims to bring clarity to the execution of the project and prevent disruptions during construction.Maha Metro has already initiated the process of appointing an agency to carry out the construction work. The proposed extension will cover a distance of 1.4km and include two stations—one at Kothrud depot and the other at Chandni Chowk. Although the stretch is relatively short, local sources from the Kothrud depot area said the link is important as it will provide direct connectivity to Chandni Chowk, a key entry point to the city.PMC has asked Maha Metro to ensure adequate space is maintained for footpaths and road carriageways, considering the heavy traffic flow along the route. Officials said they have also sought details on the placement of barricades at crucial points during construction.“We have asked Maha Metro to clearly mark the entry and exit points of the stations and provide a probable timeline for the work,” a civic official said.According to the preliminary plan, the proposed flyover at Kothrud depot will be constructed simultaneously with the Metro viaduct. Although the flyover will be used for vehicular movement, it will be built by Maha Metro. The flyover has been proposed to ease traffic congestion along the busy stretch.Meanwhile, a pedestrian overbridge has been proposed at the Chandni Chowk Metro station to connect it with the Katraj–Dehu Road bypass. The facility is expected to help commuters access the bypass more easily.Local residents said authorities should ensure convenient access to the Metro station as well as to the bypass. “We expect a bridge that will provide easy access to commuters on both sides of the Katraj–Dehu Road bypass,” a resident of the area said.
