PUNE: With Ganeshotsav round-the-corner and a significant rise in vehicular movement expected on the Pune-Satara and Mumbai-Bengaluru highway corridors, residents and motorists have urged the authorities to open the completed, remaining carriageway of the new Warje bridge on the Pune bypass (NH-48) without further delay. Presently, thousands of vehicles continue to daily use the existing carriageway and adjoining stretches, as the completed side which is expected to provide additional capacity and ease congestion around Warje bridge chowk has not yet been opened to the public.
The necessary checks and arrangements are being completed before opening it. Residents however insist that the opening should not be delayed any further. “The bridge is ready but motorists are still forced to face long queues every day. With Ganpati approaching, traffic will increase considerably. Baba Shinde, president, Maharashtra Drivers-Owners and Representatives Federation, demanded that the carriageway be opened immediately. “There is no reason to keep a completed carriageway closed when motorists are suffering in traffic jams every day.
A National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The work on the bridge is complete and the remaining carriageway will soon be opened to traffic. The official said that they are trying to open the carriageway to the public by next week. If the completed side is opened now, it will provide immediate relief to thousands of commuters,” said Kunal Mankar, a Warje resident. The authorities should open the remaining side immediately, particularly before Ganpati when traffic on this route will increase manifold,” Shinde said.
