The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) would construct a 250metre-long foot overbridge (FOB) -the longest in Pune district -at Nashik Phata junction in Kasarwadi. Estimated to cost Rs 10.36 crore, the facility would help pedestrians cross the 10-lane Mumbai-Pune highway , Pune-Lonavla railway tracks and the Nashik Phata-Wakad road at one go. Nine staircases would connect to the FOB at different points.
“The PCMC standing com mittee has approved the pro ject. We will soon give the work order to a contractor so that the actual construction work starts and the FOB is in place in 18 months,“ said joint city engineer of PCMC Rajan Pa til. He said the FOB would enable pedestrians cross the BRTS stretches on the Pune Mumbai highway as well as on the Nashik Phata-Wakad stretch, and reach the Kasarwadi railway station. “There will be two tube-like structures on the walking platforms.The entire FOB would have attractive light display and flexible roof sheet,“ Patil said.
Scores of people who cross the Mumbai-Pune highway at Nashik Phata junction fear for their lives. Almost everyone has to negotiate speeding vehicles going towards Pune, Mumbai and Nashik. Jumping of signals and vehicles standing on zebra crossings is rampant at the junction, having one of its kind two-storied flyover.
The FOB would highly benefit the people heading to the Kasarwadi railway station. It would also be of help for those going to the bus stops.
Ganesh Shinde, a resident of Bhosari, said, “I come to Nashik Phata Chowk from Bhosari by bus. Then I board a train to go to Shivajinagar for work. I find it extremely difficult to cross the chowk because of indisciplined drivers who do not stop at the red signal. PCMC should have const ructed the FOB after it widened the chowk to 61metres five years ago.“
Pimple Gurav resident Ra jesh Kakade said, “I sometimes reach the Nashik Phata Chowk late in the night from Nashik by MSRTC buses. The FOB will help ST bus passengers like me to cross the PuneMumbai highway and railway tracks to reach Pimple Gurav.“
Source : TOI
