MahaMetro proposes double-deck flyover on busy Ahmednagar Road

PUNE: The MahaMetro on Saturday proposed a two-tiered flyover at Rs 175 crore on Ahmednagar Road with dedicated decks for Metro and regular traffic, while asking the PMC to bear its construction cost.
The flyover, similar to the one planned on Nal Stop, is proposed between Gunjan Chowk and Shastrinagar Chowk, covering a total length of 1.75km, MahaMetro officials said, adding that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been given two months to revert on the proposal.
Of Rs 175 crore of the project, about 75% will be borne by the PMC as the pillars will anyway be constructed by the MahaMetro, the officials added.
On Saturday, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro) managing director Brijesh Dixit told TOI that they believe that the project is feasible. “However, PMC will have to take a final call on the project,” he added.
Dixit said it is up to the civic body to take a final call on the project as the flyover was not a part of our detailed project report. “We can give PMC a benefit of 25% as the flyover will be constructed on the pillars meant for the Metro line. If the proposal is approved, the deck for the Metro line will be 21m above the ground, while the deck for regular vehicles will be around 7m above the ground,” he said.
MLA’s suggestion taken up
The flyover proposal was ideated by Ahmednagar Road MLA Jagdish Mulik, who had written to the MahaMetro that a double-deck flyover would help address traffic snarls in the area.
“While it is good that the MahaMetro has found the proposal feasible, I feel that they should bear 50% of the project cost as PMC may not be able to dedicate funds just for this one stretch,” Mulik said.
Meanwhile, PMC officials said they will look into the proposal. “The proposal was tabled before the municipal commissioner last week. It is a policy decision and it can be taken only after proper discussions,” senior civic officials said.