672 Bridges in Pune to Undergo Safety Inspection Before Monsoon

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Pune, 14th February 2025: Ahead of the monsoon, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a structural audit of 672 bridges across the city. The inspection, mandated by the state government, will cover bridges over rivers, drains, railway lines, flyovers, subways, and pedestrian walkways. The Project Department has begun the tendering process to appoint a consulting firm for the audit.

“The Public Works Department has issued guidelines requiring structural audits of all bridges before and after the monsoon. Accordingly, the municipal corporation has initiated this process.” — Sandeep Patil, Executive Engineer, Project Department

Pune’s 44-km-long Mula-Mutha River is home to several bridges, some of which date back to the British era, while others were constructed in recent years by the municipal corporation. Bridges play a vital role in managing the city’s growing traffic congestion, with several new bridges planned under Pune’s development plan.

The municipal corporation is currently constructing a bridge connecting Karvenagar and Suncity and has recently completed a new bridge in Aundh to improve connectivity between Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Additionally, small culverts over city drains, as well as flyovers, underpasses, and pedestrian bridges at major intersections, are part of the city’s growing infrastructure.

However, with increasing urban expansion and traffic, ensuring the safety of both old and new bridges is critical. The Public Works Department (PWD) has directed the PMC to audit the structural stability of all bridges before and after the monsoon, as floods and waterlogging have previously caused structural damage and even bridge collapses.

The Ambil Odha flood disaster in Pune highlighted the vulnerability of city bridges, as several were damaged following a cloudburst. In response, PMC has rebuilt these bridges over the past three to four years in phases.

PMC has set aside ₹10 crore in the current budget for bridge audits and structural reinforcements, with an additional ₹15 crore expected in the next financial year. A consulting company will be appointed to inspect all 672 bridges and provide a detailed safety report. The report will outline bridges requiring repairs or strengthening, and PMC will undertake the necessary work based on these recommendations.

Types and Number of Bridges in Pune
Major bridges: 70
Flyovers: 14
Railway bridges: 18
Underground roads: 33
Pedestrian bridges & underpasses: 33
Small bridges: 108
Bridges over drains: 434