Currently , commuters cross the two railway corridors in the area via level crossings located within a span of a kilometre. Traffic snarls and slow-moving vehicles have become a daily occurrence. The situation is further compounded due to frequent closure of gates on the busy railway lines and the less than desirable road condition.
“I wait for almost 15 minutes to get past the railway crossing. Although the gates reopened about 10 minutes ago, traffic is moving at a snail’s pace. On a daily basis, I get late to work because of this,“ says Renjitha, who works in Kalyaninagar.
The much-delayed RoB project has been a bone of contention between the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Central Railway , Army and Pune Cantonment Board (PCB). The first proposal to build the over bridges came up in 2005. PMC had then submitted a proposal to PCB regarding construction over the two level crossings.The main point in question is with regards to the presence of large tracts of defence land along the level cros sings, where the bridges have been proposed. Numerous joint inspections have been carried out by parliamentary groups and civic authorities but the process came to an abrupt halt when the Union defence ministry refused to permit construction citing “security concerns“.
Earlier this year, on a visit to Pune, defence minister Manohar Parrikar “accepted“ that constructing a bridge was an urgent need in the area. He even prodded local authorities to move forward with the plans. In No vember, he suggested that project details be wrapped up as fast as possible and that the bridge should preferably be 33metre wide. A joint in spection, by representatives of the Army , PMC, railways and PCB, finally carried out an inspection in the area on Tuesday.
“This was a meeting coordinated by the Pune Lok Sabha MP Anil Shirole, who urged that the inspection take place.Talks are at a preliminary stage but we are sure to sort out all de tails eventually ,“ says Kiran Mantri, vice-president of PCB.
Nevertheless, locals are not too convinced. “Such inspections have been organised several times in the past. Authorities promise that tenders will be issued soon but not a single pillar has been constructed for the RoB yet,“ said Tukaram Pawar, a rickshaw driver.
“Thousands of commuters use the level crossings and the bridge will help. I work in Kharadi and I obviously want to reach office without spending a lot of time stuck in traffic,“ said Wanowrie resident Mudassar.
Source : TOI
