Pune: Political tensions are escalating on Sinhagad Road as the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) protests the delayed opening of the Rajaram Bridge flyover.

Despite the completion of construction, the flyover has not been opened, allegedly due to the unavailability of political leaders for the inauguration.

On Thursday (August 8), the NCP-SP held a protest at the site, demanding that the flyover be opened to the public immediately. The party warned that if the flyover is not opened by August 12, they will take matters into their own hands and open it on August 13 as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) campaign.

Meanwhile, the municipal administration has claimed that some work on the flyover, specifically the third layer of asphalt, is still pending.

They have put up information boards at the site to inform the public of the incomplete status of the work. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sharply criticized the NCP's protest, accusing them of spreading misinformation.

Key leaders from the NCP, including city president Prashant Jagtap, former Standing Committee Chairperson Ashwini Kadam, Kaka Chavan, Mrunal Vani, Popatrao Khedekar, Ganesh Nalawade, Shashikant Tapkir, Rajshree Patil, Amogh Dhamale, Bhakti Kumbhar, Rohan Paigude, Sameer Pawar, Amol Nanaware, Balasaheb Raykar, Abhijit Barawkar, Rameez Syed, were present in large numbers at the protest.

Addressing the situation, BJP MLA Madhuri Misal stated that the final layer of asphalt on the flyover would be completed within a week. She warned that opening the flyover prematurely could result in potholes.

Misal further accused the Sharad Pawar faction of staging the protest solely for publicity, claiming that the local residents do not support their actions.