Pune Metro To Complete Girder Work At Sambhaji Bridge After Ganesh Festival

Alka Chowk, 13th September 2021: MahaMetro has clarified that the work of laying girders for the metro line on the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj bridge (Lakdi Pul) will be completed after the Ganesh festival. The authority also said that the work would not be hampered in any way as the work would be done as per the National Highway norms.

The work of the first phase during Vanaz-Garware College is now in the final stage. On this route, the metro route from Swatantryaveer Savarkar Smarak to the Deccan Gymkhana bus stand will pass through the riverside.

Pune Metro will cross over Sambhaji Bridge which connects Deccan to Sadashiv Peth between Khandoji Baba Chowk and Alka Chowk. Recently work was started to install a 50 m long steel girder across the bridge. However, Ganesh Mandal workers gathered at the spot to oppose work, stating that the height of the girder would obstruct the Ganesh immersion procession. The girder is 20 feet in height and is the longest on the Vanaz-Civil court metro stretch.

Mandal workers wanted to increase the height of the girder from 20 feet to 28 feet. The Ganesh procession uses this route for immersions, a tradition in the city for decades.

Considering the objection from the Mandals, Mayor Murlodhar Mohol instructed the metro authority to hold the metro work. Recently the metro authority clarified that the work will be completed after the Ganesh festival.

According to the standards of National Highways, space is required for transportation up to 5.5 meters above the ground. Therefore, the same height is maintained from the ground even during the tunnelling work of the Pune Metro. These criteria have been decided to keep in view the traffic on the national highways, the height of the vehicles carrying the goods.

Accordingly, the work of MahaMetro is underway. The girders will be installed at about 6.5 meters of height from the ground on the  Sambhaji bridge, said an official from MahaMetro.