Maharashtra's first two-tier flyover at Nashik Phata will be thrown open to public next month
The good news is here. The work of the much-talked about and anticipated, Maharashtra’s first ever two-tier flyover at Nashik Phata is complete. The engineering marvel will be open for public use in November.
The bridge (read bridges) will do what was once considered improbable — connect the Information Technology (IT) and industrial hub of Pimpri Chinchwad.
The flyover will also connect the newly well-developed residential suburbs and two major highways NH-4 and NH-15. The unique feature of the flyover is that it enables commuters cross the Pavana river and Pune-Lonavla railway tracks in one stretch.
All that you need to know
Rs103.50 crore: Cost of the project
Architecture design: Consulting Engineering Service Pvt Ltd.
Project funded by: World Bank and JNNURM
Developer : BG Shirke and VM Mistry
July 12, 2010: Work started
January 13, 2013: Deadline
6 months: Extension
95% complete: Status
November 2013: Open for public
About the structure
First level:
Twin flyovers from Bhosari to Wakad
15.30 metres: width
1,100.20 metres: length
6 metres: height of the chowk
Dedicated lane for BRTS, motor-vehicle, cycle track, footpath
Second level
One way- Pune to Nashik
9.30 metres (two lane): width
11,000 metres: length
20 metres: height
3 ramps for pedestrians
The Hurdles
Financial crunch
Had the PCMC administration decided to hold the decision to construct the longest two-tier flyover in 2009-10 considering financial problem, Pune might have missed this wonder.
When the civic body had decided to construct the flyover under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), it did not have the funds to contribute. Under JnNURM, the project cost is split as — 40 per cent of central government , 20 per cent of state and 40 per cent of municipal corporation. Due to the the recession in 2009-10, PCMC lost a revenue of almost Rs150 crore in octroi. Besides, major industries shifted to other places and nearly 2,000 small industrial units shut down. Despite the crisis, civic body was firm to go ahead with the plan.
Land acquisition
Though the PCMC planned a flyover on 42-metre wide NH-4 in its 2004 development plan, land acquisition was a major problem.
Known for its demolition drive, PCMC conducted the road-widening drive to make way for the flyover.
Rail authority
It was not easy for PCMC to overcome the hurdle of rail authority but after a lot of negotiation, PCMC overcame it. It took almost one-and-half year to get the nod from the railway authority. During the period of negotiation, 10 per cent cost escalation was reported.
Connectivity
The bridge has been constructed on the three sides of the busy Pune-Mumbai highway
The traffic on the Pune-Mumbai highway will ply via the ground layer
Traffic on the Pune-Nashik highway from Pimple Gurav, Wakad, Kasarwadi and nearby areas will pass through the first layer. Vehicles coming from Wakad, Pimple Gurav, Kasarwadi and nearby areas can proceed to Pune or Mumbai via the Pune-Mumbai highway
The traffic from Bhosari towards Pune and vice versa can ply on the second tier of the flyover
Traffic from the Nashik Phata Chowk will not have to stop at the traffic signal
Where there is a will, there is a way
Former PCMC commissioner Ashish Sharma sought financial aid from World Bank. The proposal received strong opposition from the ruling and opposition parties, citizens’ groups and media as it was the recession period. However, World Bank approved the PCMC loan.
Executive engineer of the project Shrikant Sawane said, “Completing such a large-scale project with merely a few months delay is a big achievement.”
Ideal link
The Pune-Mumbai highway and the Pune-Nashik highway meet at Nashik Phata Chowk. The Pune Mumbai Highway has been widened to 61 metres, while the Pune-Nashik highway is only 42 metres wide. As a result heavy traffic jams are witnessed in the area. The initial idea was to avoid the traffic clog, but later the flyover helped connect the major suburbs of Wakad and Pimple Saudagar. It also connects Hinjewadi IT hub and industrial estate of Bhosari to twin town, considering the future growth of entire city.
The uniqueness of the project is it crosses two national highways — NH 4 and NH 15 and the river, railway bridge.There were 23 engineers, three project incharge and separate teams for safety and quality assurance deployed on four separate segments
— N M Kadam, joint general manger, BG Shirke Group
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