The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun the construction of the foot overbridge (FOB) on the busy Chandni Chowk flyover. The long-awaited FOB is likely to reduce the problems faced by pedestrians, especially while crossing the highway and its service roads.
Currently, there is no dedicated pedestrian bridge or underpass in Chandni Chowk, due to which people have to wade through heavy traffic to cross the road. Given that, the NHAI has started working on the delayed project. The NHAI aims to complete it within the next three months. The foundation work for the pillars is currently underway, and the installation of the frames and spans will be done in phases.
Specifications of the FOB
The Chandni Chowk foot overbridge will be over 100 metres long. Its one end will be near the Bavdhan wing and the other near the Bhugaon wing. To support it from below, the NHAI will erect a pillar on the main carriageway. Meanwhile, the NHAI is also taking steps to ensure that traffic movement is not disrupted during the construction.
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Speaking about the construction of the FOB, former councillor Dilip Wade Patil, who is actively working on the project, said that he has requested the highway authority to install either lifts or escalators on either side of the bridge to facilitate people carrying luggage. He also underscored the need to connect the FOB to the proposed nearby metro station.
Govt apprivs mega highway project
In another big development for the city, the Maharashtra government has approved a Rs 4,206.88 crore highway project connecting Talegaon, Chakan, and Shikrapur. This new route will serve as a vital connector between the Mumbai–Pune Highway (NH-48) and the Pune–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Highway (NH-753), easing traffic congestion and supporting industrial growth in the region.
The project will give an overall boost to Pune's infrastructure. The project was sanctioned during a state cabinet meeting chaired by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. It aims to decongest key industrial corridors while offering an efficient bypass for heavy vehicles that currently pass through Pune city.