Pune: As commuting on Sinhagad Road has largely become faster and hassle-free with the commencement of a new flyover, commuters who use the roads under the flyover daily want the civic administration to keep the carriageways and footpaths free of encroachment.Shrinivas Kadam, a regular traveller in the area, said that those wishing to travel directly to Narhe, Dhayri, or towards Swargate are using the flyovers. However, commuters travelling to areas like Hingne, Vitthalwadi, and Ektanagar are travelling on the road under the flyovers. “We want the administration to make sure that the space under the flyover is not utilised for purposes other than commuting,” Kadam said.The civic administration had earlier this week opened the flyover’s wing catering to vehicles coming from Wadgaon towards Hingne. This 1.5km-long wing has helped vehicles to bypass stopping at five junctions. Vitthalwadi resident Jeevan Kachi, however, said that both the wings of the flyover are being used by private vehicles like cars, bikes or commercial vehicles. PMPML buses are using the roads below the flyover. Hence, the carriageways under the flyover should be obstacle-free, and all the junctions under the flyover should undergo a revamp to avoid traffic congestion, Kachi said, adding that PMC and traffic police should immediately install no-parking boards under the vacant space below the flyover.Three flyovers are operational on Sinhagad Road to ease commuting. Carriageways at some locations are narrow, leading to slow movement of vehicles, commuters said.Officials from PMC said that there is a plan to remove electrical transformer boxes from some locations to provide space for walkers. “We are taking steps to improve overall commuting and give easy access to pedestrians near the landing and entry points of both wings of flyovers. Some changes and improvements are also planned at the junctions, and the installation of no-parking boards below the flyover will be taken up in consultation with traffic police and local vendors,” officials said. The flyover was supposed to be ready by the middle of June, however the work was delayed owing to early arrival of monsoon. The officials said that the work was expedited in August and the facility was thrown open for vehicles early this week. The travel time has reduced to five to six minutes on Rajaram bridge to Wadgaon stretch as both wings of the flyover are fully functional now. Sharad Jagtap, a regular commuter on Sinhagad Road, said, “The travel time has reduced but the chaos at Wadgaon-end of the flyover still remains. “The authorities need to work out measures to streamline exit of vehicles from the flyover at both ends. This will reduce travel time further,” he said. Sujata Naik, who also travels regularly through the stretch, said, the streetlights on the flyover and on the roads below the flyover do not function properly. The road often turns dark due to erratic functioning of streetlights. The administration needs to take corrective measures, Naik said.
