Pune: The standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation on Friday postponed the decision to fund a flyover from Chandni Chowk to Bhugaon.As per PMC officials, the project, which includes flyovers, grade separators and road widening, was expected to transform connectivity in the rapidly developing western corridor of the city.The improved infrastructure and road would serve as a key link for Hinjewadi IT Park, the Mumbai–Goa Highway and the proposed PMRDA Ring Road, they said.“There has been a principle approval to the initiative. However, many projects were being discussed for which PMC has to take future financial liability. The approval of the flyover project would be given after detailed analysis of all these projects,” said Rajesh Bankar, head of PMC’s road department.The PMC officials said the corridor was crucial as both population and traffic density have been sharply rising in these areas. Road improvements would significantly ease the traffic load on this section.The population in areas surrounding the route was currently approximately 90,000, but is projected to surge to 2–3 lakh in the coming years, the officials added. To accommodate this growth and alleviate current bottlenecks, the plan proposed widening the existing road – from 10.30 metres to 60 metres.The administration has decided to improve the road in a phased manner. In phase 1, infrastructural works for construction of a grade separator at PVPIT College junction, a service road and the main carriageway in the vicinity, worth Rs67.85 crore would be completed.Phase II, on the other hand, would worth 135.76 crore. It would involve an 870-metre flyover at Ambrosia Chowk and Patil Nagar Chowk, as well as a 30-metre-long and 70-metre-wide bridge over Ramnadi River, the project report said.“We were seeking more details from the administration on this initiative. The project would again be discussed in the next meeting,” said Shrinath Bhimale, chairman of the committee.
