Pimpri: The construction of the bridge over the Mula River, connecting Bopkhel and Khadki, is 98 per cent complete and is set to open for traffic by the end of August 2024. This development will provide significant relief to the residents of Bopkhel, who have been detouring 16 kilometers to reach Pimpri since 2015. The new bridge will significantly reduce travel distance and time.
The civilian road through the College of Military Engineering (CME) in Dapodi, used by Bopkhel residents, was closed on May 13, 2015, following an order from the Bombay High Court.
As a result, the 2-kilometer route to Dapodi increased to approximately 16 kilometers, causing considerable inconvenience to residents, students, and workers who had to take longer routes via Bhosari or Vishrantwadi and Khadki.
On July 20, 2019, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) initiated the construction of a 1,856-meter (approximately 2 kilometers) bridge over the Mula River, connecting Bopkhel and Khadki. T & T Infra Company is executing the bridge and connecting roads project.
Delays were caused by legal proceedings and the acquisition of land from the defense department, leading to a 24-month extension for the project. The bridge is 1,856 meters long and 8.40 meters wide, with approach roads of 58 meters on the Bopkhel side and 262 meters on the Khadki side. As of now, 98 per cent of the work is complete, and the bridge is scheduled to open for traffic by the end of August 2024.
The construction faced obstacles due to high-voltage electric lines and towers of the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company (MSETCL) that provided power to defense establishments and residential areas.
These high-voltage lines and towers were relocated on May 18, 2024. The remaining civil works are nearing completion. Once opened, the bridge will facilitate easy travel for residents and students, reducing the distance to 2.9 kilometers to reach Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune via Khadki.
Assistant City Engineer of the Project Department, Pramod Ombhase, stated that the bridge work is nearing completion and will soon be opened for traffic. Coordination is ongoing with defense and traffic police officials to finalize the plans. This development will benefit residents and workers in Bopkhel and save time for students.
Former local councilor and ex-deputy mayor Hirabai Ghule commented that for the past nine years, Bopkhel residents had to detour 16 kilometers. The bridge construction required struggle at various levels, but it is now nearing completion and will soon be open for traffic, providing great relief to the citizens.