Keshavnagar-Amanora Underpass Remains Shut, Residents Fear Traffic Worsening After New Bridge Opens

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Keshavnagar, 20th August 2026: Even as the Kharadi-Keshavnagar bridge begins operations after nearly a decade of delays, residents of Keshavnagar and Amanora have raised fresh concerns over the continued non-operation of the PMRDA underpass connecting the two areas.

The underpass has remained unusable for nearly 2.5 to 3 years, with the approach roads on either side yet to be completed. Residents said there is still no clear timeline for when the facility will become operational, while the work on the approach road has effectively been suspended due to unresolved land acquisition issues.

The delay has become a growing concern as traffic patterns are expected to change following the opening of the Kharadi–Keshavnagar bridge. Residents fear that motorists travelling from Magarpatta and Amanora towards Kharadi and looking to avoid Mundhwa Chowk may increasingly use the Keshavnagar route, putting additional pressure on the already congested railway crossing.

The Keshavnagar railway crossing witnesses heavy traffic every day, particularly during peak hours. Residents said the crossing has a single-lane stretch and has not been upgraded to handle the increasing volume of vehicles.

With the underpass remaining shut, vehicles continue to queue at the railway crossing, resulting in delays, fuel wastage and traffic congestion.

Residents have also raised concerns about the condition of the unused underpass. Stagnant rainwater and sewage have accumulated inside the structure, raising concerns over mosquito breeding and public health in the surrounding residential areas.

Residents questioned why the underpass was constructed before the land and approach-road issues were resolved.

«“If there were issues with the approach roads and land acquisition, why was the underpass constructed without completing the necessary formalities first? The authorities should have completed the official documentation and land-related processes before constructing the structure. Today, we have an underpass with lights, but it remains unusable. In a metro city, we still have to depend on a railway crossing that has only a single-lane stretch,” said Chaitanya Sharma, a Keshavnagar resident.»

Residents said the issue is particularly serious now because the newly operational Kharadi–Keshavnagar bridge could increase traffic towards Keshavnagar. They have urged authorities to find an urgent solution for the underpass as well as other traffic bottlenecks in the area.

Meanwhile, PMRDA Executive Engineer Nandkumar Korke said the delay is linked to land acquisition issues affecting the approach road.

“The approach roads on either side fall under the jurisdiction of PMC and PMRDA, respectively. There is a land acquisition issue for the approach road under PMRDA’s jurisdiction. We had sent the proposal to the Revenue Department, but some landowners opposed the joint measurement and acquisition process, resulting in a delay,” Korke said.

He added that the approach road has now been included in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s draft Development Plan (DP). Once the DP is finalised, the land acquisition process will proceed through the PMC.

“Private landowners are not giving their land. We have also sent a letter to the District Collector. The landowners are opposing the acquisition, and that is the main reason for the delay from our side,” Korke said.

Residents, however, are demanding a timeline for resolving the land issue and making the underpass operational, saying the facility could provide a crucial alternative to the congested Keshavnagar railway crossing.

With traffic intensity expected to increase following the opening of the Kharadi–Keshavnagar bridge, residents say the underpass can no longer remain an unfinished link in the area’s transport network. They are now seeking immediate intervention from the concerned authorities to resolve the land acquisition issue, resume the suspended approach-road work and make the underpass operational at the earliest.