Pune: Chandni Chowk Flyover Lacks Pedestrian Facilities, Posing Daily Hazards

Chandni Chowk, 12th July 2024: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) constructed a flyover at Chandni Chowk, spending crores of rupees, and inaugurated it with great fanfare. At that time, it was alleged that the inauguration was done in haste while several works were incomplete.

If that allegation is true, the situation is currently evident in Chandni Chowk. There is no pedestrian way for passengers arriving at this place to cross the road, forcing thousands of people to risk their lives crossing the road daily.

As the Mumbai-Bangalore National Highway passes through Chandni Chowk, vehicles travel at high speeds on this route, including heavy vehicles. Thousands of passengers regularly travel to and from Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, and Mumbai through this square.

When passengers heading towards Mumbai get off on the Kothrud side, there is no footpath for them to go to NDA, Bhugaon, Mulshi, or walk from NDA to Kothrud or Bavdhan. Hence, many passengers risk their lives crossing the highway.

Commuters say they have to cross the divider due to the lack of a footpath. They risk their lives navigating through the rush of vehicles. Women with small children suffer greatly, and senior citizens have no choice but to take a rickshaw to cross the road. A pedestrian path should be constructed immediately at this location.

Union Minister of State and Pune MP Muralidhar Mohol said, “For the convenience of pedestrians, a foot-over bridge will be constructed by the NHAI. I have stated this in the meeting held yesterday. I will also issue a letter.”

Ten months have passed since the inauguration of the flyover, yet pedestrians have not been considered. Passengers expressed their anger at the administration for not providing any facilities for students, senior citizens, women, employees, and disabled citizens to cross the road at the square. Pedestrians have also demanded the immediate construction of a pedestrian path in the square, prioritizing the safety of citizens.

Sanjay Kadam, project director of the NHAI, was contacted but did not respond.

To cross the highway and go in the opposite direction, one has to take a rickshaw and make a detour of two to three kilometres. If you need to go in the opposite direction after reaching the square in the middle of the night, even rickshaws are not available, forcing pedestrians to walk three kilometres. Rickshaw drivers charge Rs 120 for a three-kilometre ride. When inspected on Tuesday (9th), the work of installing iron grating on the bifurcation of the highway was underway. Passengers were walking along the grid to cross the road.