Baner ramp of University Chowk double-decker flyover opens today, to ease traffic congestion on Ganeshkhind Road

Pune: Baner ramp of the double-decker flyover at University Junction will open on Sunday, nearly six months after the Aundh ramp became operational last Aug. The structure forms a key part of the integrated flyover along the 23km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor and is expected to ease congestion on the busy Baner-Ganeshkhind Road stretch, PMRDA officials told TOI on Saturday.The integrated 1.7km flyover with Metro was approved by Pune Municipal Corporation and PMRDA, and construction began on Aug 26, 2022. It features six lanes and multiple ramps — a 210m two-lane Aundh ramp, a 151m four-lane Baner ramp, a 116m two-lane Pashan ramp and a 174m six-lane ramp on the Ganeshkhind side.
The officials said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis would inaugurate the integrated flyover virtually at 10am on Sunday. Deputy CMs Sunetra Pawar and Eknath Shinde, and Union MoS for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol are expected to attend the event.PMRDA chief engineer Rinaj Pathan said the section being inaugurated was fully complete, and all structural, electrical and safety checks had been carried out on both the flyover and Metro decks. "All safety measures have been taken before opening the stretch to traffic. The flyover will significantly ease congestion at University Junction and benefit commuters from Baner, Balewadi, Aundh and the Hinjewadi IT hub, reducing travel time and improving traffic flow," Pathan said, adding that the project was a major step forward in strengthening urban mobility in the region.Commuters welcomed the development. Swapnil Prabhakaran, an Aundh resident, said, "After the delayed opening of the Aundh and Shivajinagar ramps, the Baner ramp coming up after six months is a big relief. It will certainly ease traffic on the arterial road."Maithili More, a student, said traffic police must be deployed to ensure smooth flow once the stretch opens.Senior PMRDA officials said the Aundh-Shivajinagar ramp was already operational, providing partial relief. "With the Baner ramp now ready, traffic movement along these routes is expected to improve considerably. The Pashan ramp is nearing completion too, with only a 50-metre stretch pending due to the relocation of utilities. Once the work is done, it will open without a separate timeline. The main components were the Aundh and Baner ramps," a senior official said.Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole took to on X announcing that the E-Square-Baner Road flyover would be opened on Sunday. The MLA said he was confident that the new flyover would significantly ease traffic along the busy stretch and offer long-term relief to residents and daily commuters. "As Pune continues to grow, such infrastructure upgrades are vital for improving mobility and strengthening connectivity across the city," he said.Meanwhile, work is underway on Metro Line-3 station number 19 at University Junction, which will provide access via stairways from the Aundh, Baner and Pashan sides. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !