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Pimpri Chinchwad: Hundreds of Std X students in Bopkhel have to start early from home and travel long distances to reach the SSC examination centres in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad cities and Khadki on time.
On many occasions, they are reaching the exam centres late and not getting much time to write their papers. The students’ plight has once again highlighted the need for early construction of a permanent bridge on the Mula river to link Bopkhel to Khadki. The other option is to construct a temporary bridge.
The residents’ woes began way back in May 2015, when the defence authorities closed the 2.25km long Bopkhel bridge. They enjoyed some temporary relief when the defence authorities put in place a pontoon bridge on the river in June 2015. It was, however, removed a year later, but was thrown open again before monsoon.
Yash Kadam, a Std X student of Modern school, said, “Even as the examination centre is in the area and the paper starts at 11am, I have to start from home by 8.30am to catch the 9am bus from Bopkhel Phata on Pune-Alandi road. I need to take a bus either to Vishrantwadi or Khadki. From there, I need to change the bus to the school.”
Kishore Chavan, a student of Swami Vivekananda school in Dapodi said, “My centre is in the same school, but I have to start early from home before 9am to catch a bus. I have to sometimes take an autorickshaw to Vishrantwadi if I miss the bus to catch another bus to Dapodi.”
Chavan schoolmate Sheetal Bhande also said he has to start early from his home to to reach the exam centre on time.
Deepti Jogdande, who studies at a private school in Khadki, said, “I start a hour early from my home in Ramnagar to reach the exam centre at our school on time. The buses are rarely on time. I am forced to take autorickshaws, paying more money. ”
Gulabrao Bhalerao, executive president of the Bopkhel Gaon Rasta Sangharsha Samiti, said, “We have staged hunger strikes twice to put pressure on the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for taking steps towards constructing at least a temporary bridge for connectivity to Khadki. This is necessary as it will take at least two years to complete a permanent bridge after getting necessary permissions from defence authorities.”
He added, “We have only received assurances from the PCMC and the district collector’s office that measures are being taken to obtain permission for a permanent bridge over the Mula river. We will soon stage a ‘jawab do’ (give answer) agitation to demand answer from PCMC about efforts taken for solving our problems.”
A civic official said the civic body’s general body had in April 2016 approved construction of a 192m bridge along the approach roads measuring 547m (215m from Bopkhel and 332m from Khadki). “The length of the bridge was increased to 1,040m after the irrigation department said there must be no abutment of the bridge and filling in the blue floodline. This increased the estimated project cost to Rs 45 crore,” he said.
The board of officers has approved the PCMC's Bopkhel bridge design and sent it to the defence ministry for final approval. “We can invite bids to select a contractor for constructing the bridge once the approval comes,” the officer said.
Municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar said, “We have written letters to the ministry of defence for granting permission to construct a permanent bridge for Bopkhel residents. We are conducting follow-up on the issue through the state joint secretary. I will visit New Delhi soon to folow up the matter with the defence ministry.”
