Pune: Construction of New Foot Overbridge at Chandni Chowk to Begin Next Month
A pedestrian overbridge will soon be constructed at Chandni Chowk by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), with the tender process for the project now complete. The 100-meter iron pedestrian overbridge will extend from the new bus stand of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) at Chandni Chowk to Irani Cafe in Bavdhan.
The contract for the pedestrian overbridge has been awarded to the Kolhapur-based company MD Infra, and the final stage of contract negotiations between the NHAI and MD Infra is underway. According to the NHAI, construction of the pedestrian overbridge will commence next month.
Various stakeholders have consistently raised concerns about pedestrian safety at Chandni Chowk, emphasizing the need to prioritize pedestrian welfare. Headlines such as “Pedestrians’ Lives in Danger at Chandni Chowk” have highlighted the daily risks passengers face while crossing the highway.
Currently, pedestrians wishing to cross the highway must walk three kilometers or pay a rickshaw fare of more than Rs 100. With the pedestrian overbridge, crossing the highway safely will take only five minutes, providing much-needed relief to passengers inconvenienced by current conditions.
In an effort to address commuter inconvenience and enhance safety, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol has written to the Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, urging immediate action on the construction of the pedestrian overbridge.