New bridge near Alankar talkies to ease traffic pain

PUNE: The civic administration has said an additional wing of a rail overbridge near Alankar talkies is almost ready and the facility will be open for vehicular movement by next month.



The existing bridge was proving insufficient as the traffic load continued to increase.

The work on the additional bridge was under way for the last-one-and-a-half years and is now in its last stages. The bridge will provide an additional link from the Alankar talkies Chowk towards Raja Bahadur mill road, Jehangir hospital Chowk.

The rail and civic authorities had last month initiated a complete closure of the existing bridge for the launching of girders. Officials said most part of the civil work has been completed.

“Works pertaining to the tarring of surface and other smaller task were pending. The project will get over mostly by the end of November,” an official said.

The work was delayed for some months because of non-availability of land for approaches. The project was put on fast track after the issue was resolved.

Piyush Zawar, who often travels through the area, said the existing bridge has been in a pathetic condition for the last many years. “A significant numbers of walkers and people travelling by trains use the bridge to cross railway tracks. They have been for long facing difficulties. This is because the bridge does not have footpaths on either side. It will good if the administration is ensuring footpaths on both sides now,” Zawar said.

Several citizens said the completion of work has come at the right time as the Metro work has started on Raja Bahadur mill road. “The Metro work will soon progress up to the chowk from where the bridge begins. The facility will help reduce the traffic burden from Raja Bahadur mill road to some extent,” said Abhay Shinde, an autorickshaw driver.

As of now, the civic administration and the traffic police department have allowed one-way traffic (from Alankar talkies Chowk towards Raja Bahadur mill road) on the bridge.

Once the work is over, the vehicles from Raja Bahadur mill road and Jehangir hospital Chowk towards Alankar talkies will use the new bridge. On the other hand, the vehicles coming from Alankar talkies will utilize the existing bridge.