Pune: Civic body to demolish bridge over Bhairoba nullah near Ganga Satellite

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to demolish a more than a century-old low-lying bridge on Bhairoba nullah, near the Ganga Satellite housing society in Wanowrie, and construct a new bridge in its place.
The bridge links traffic between Canning Road in Camp and Mahadji Shinde Chhatri Marg in Wanowrie. It has no proper barricading or safety features and is prone to flooding during heavy rain.Three people died after their vehicles were washed away in nullah water in 2019.
The Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) has given its consent to the PMC for demolition work. Ganesh Puram, PMC drainage department engineer, said on Monday, "The water from Bhairoba nullah started overflowing during the monsoon, reaching up to 2.5ft of the bridge. We had to close the bridge from both sides to prevent accidents. We have decided to demolish the bridge in the next 8-10 days and construct a new one so that flooding can be prevented even if the nullah overflows during the monsoon."
Puram told TOI, "Last week, we removed the railings of the bridge, surveyed the place and prepared the design of the existing bridge and the new one, which will be built within two months. We have re-installed the railings and thrown open the bridge for vehicles.."
"Before undertaking the demolition, we will divert traffic from an old bridge, also on Bhairoba nullah, after resurfacing the road near Ganga Satellite. The process of constructing new drains in low-lying areas of Wanowrie, Kharadi, Hadapsar, Kalepadal, Handewadi, B T Kawade Road and other places has commenced," he said.
Former PCB member Vinod Mathurawala said, "We have been demanding that the narrow bridge, used as a two-way traffic, be demolished and a new one constructed." Maithili Manakwad, secretary, Wanowrie Residents' Forum, said, "The demolition of the bridge is the need of the hour because of rapid urbanisation in WanowrieThe bridge has become a major bottleneck for two-way traffic at peak hours."
Inspector P N Hajare from Wanowrie traffic police said, "The PMC had closed the bridge last week after the nullah started overflowing. We have requested the authorities to install barricades, sign boards and appoint wardens for diverting traffic before razing the bridge."