Pune: Night Work Begins on Sadhu Vaswani Overbridge Project to Ease Traffic Congestion
Pune, June 21, 2025 – The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated night construction work on the Sadhu Vaswani Railway Overbridge (RoB) to accelerate the delayed project, which aims to replace the aging structure and alleviate traffic congestion between Koregaon Park and Pune Cantonment. The civic body has set a completion target of March 2026, but progress has been hampered by monsoon disruptions and traffic restrictions.
Project Delays and Challenges
The reconstruction of the overbridge, which began with demolition in July 2023, has seen uneven progress. While the Koregaon Park side is nearly complete, work on the Pune Cantonment side remains stalled due to the Central Railways’ delay in approving a block schedule.
To counter daytime traffic restrictions, PMC has started night concreting operations to expedite the work. Abhijit Ambekar, Executive Engineer, PMC Project Department, stated, “Despite traffic constraints, we are working at night to avoid delays. Ramp construction is ongoing on the Koregaon Park side, along with girder and BARTI ramp work. The central ramp is being fabricated off-site.”
Monsoon Woes and Railway Coordination
The heavy monsoon rains have further disrupted concreting efforts, forcing the PMC to adjust schedules based on weather conditions. Earlier, the railway administration granted a block in December 2024, allowing work from January to May 2025, during which PMC demolished the remaining sections of the old bridge. However, obtaining a 50-hour traffic block for debris clearance took over two months of follow-ups with authorities.
Importance of the Overbridge
The Sadhu Vaswani RoB is a crucial link between Koregaon Park and Pune Cantonment, serving as a key route for commuters. The new structure is expected to reduce traffic bottlenecks and provide a safer, more robust alternative to the outdated bridge.
With the March 2026 deadline approaching, PMC officials remain hopeful that night shifts and better railway coordination will help meet the target. However, further delays in securing necessary permissions could prolong the project.
