Pune: The civic administration has been facing an uphill task of meeting commuters’ expectations to complete a grade separator and flyover work in two months before monsoon at Vishrantwadi junction.Hundreds of road users were already going through chaos owing to barricading and demand that things should improve before monsoon. The commuters’ trouble however was likely to increase soon as PMC and traffic police have been planning to introduce traffic diversions to assist work in the remaining stretch.Sources from PMC said the work has progressed till the main junction and hence it was inevitable to initiate traffic diversions and keep the carriageways free to assist the works.The civic administration has approached the traffic police department to work out diversion plans. Officials said the work can get over before monsoon only if the diversions and road closure were allowed for the next few days.An official from PMC said, “The work was progressing at a limited pace because of restrictions. It could have been expedited if we got more space, but it looked difficult to close the entire chowk for vehicles. About 68% work of grade separator and flyover has been finished. The crucial work in the junction area was still pending.”The PMC was expecting the traffic police to work out a plan on the lines of diversions imposed at University Chowk during recent flyover work. Local corporators from the area said a joint meeting would be held in the next few days to meet a breakthrough and finish the work at the chowk on priority. Local commuters said the authorities must work out traffic diversion plans before stopping vehicular movement at the main chowk. Atul Sathe, a local vendor, said vehicles from various directions such as Alandi, Phugewadi RTO, Tingrenagar and Dhanori meet at Vishrantwadi chowk and have been facing hardships because of ongoing work. Authorities must takeweekly reviews of work progress, Sathe said.
