PUNE: The busy Karve Road will finally see some Metro activity from Saturday.
The
Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro) will start work on a 300m stretch between Ayurved Rasashala chowk and Yeshvantrao Chavan chowk.
Accordingly, restrictions have been imposed on the movement of heavy vehicular traffic, including MSRTC buses and private luxury buses. However, the curbs do not apply to
Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses.
Restricted vehicles going from JM Road towards Karve Road will not allowed to turn right at Khandujibaba chowk but instead, proceed straight towards Alka Talkies chowk, through Shankarsheth road, past Senadutta police chowkey, over Mhatre bridge before they get on Karve Road at Nal Stop chowk.
Similarly, Vehicles coming from Karvenagar or Paud Road will be diverted towards Mhatre Bridge at Nal Stop.
Apart from PMPML buses, the restrictions will not apply to cars and two-wheelers. However, officials have urged all motorists to follow the aforementioned diversions.
Apart from the diversions, traffic police will also not allow parking or halting of private vehicles by the roadside.
The work on Karve Road is being taken up in phases, with Saturday marking the beginning of Phase I.
MahaMetro will install barricades on either side of the median, and will take up 9m in the centre. There will be 7.5m of free space — about two lanes — for regular traffic on both sides.
The diversions will be in place till the completion of work on this phase.
“We are planning to ensure minimum hardship to commuters during the work,” a MahaMetro official said. “About 25 traffic wardens will be deployed to assist the police in managing the flow of traffic. The vehicles can ply on two lanes on each side of the road, while about 9m in the centre will be utilized for Metro work,” the official added.
The official further said that civil work at Nal Stop chowk is expected to begin next month. MahaMetro had said it will begin work on the Metro corridor as well as the double-decker flyover at the spot. The Metro and the flyover will have common pillars. The design for both is almost ready, officials said.
