PMC to Build Grade Separator to Tackle Traffic at Pune University Junction
Residents and commuters who regularly brave the congested roads around Pune University have reason to be hopeful. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has officially approved a major new infrastructure project: a grade separator specifically designed to ease the chronic traffic at Pune University Junction.
This decision comes on the heels of a recent improvement, the opening of one arm of the new double-decker flyover on Ganeshkhind Road in August. Now, the PMC is moving forward with the next phase to further untangle the busy stretch. The project, awarded for Rs 48 crore, includes the construction of the grade separator itself and a connecting ramp from Senapati Bapat Road up to the new flyover.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram confirmed the proposal’s approval, signaling a green light for the much-needed intervention.
Understanding that construction can cause its own temporary headaches, the PMC is taking a careful, phased approach. Dinkar Gojare, in charge of the civic project department, explained that work will only begin after a detailed site visit with city police to plan effective traffic diversions and minimize public inconvenience.
The strategy is smart and sequential. The arm from Senapati Bapat Road will be built only after creating ample space for vehicles to commute. Crucially, the main work on the grade separator at Pune University Junction will start only after the second arm of the Ganeshkhind flyover is opened to the public. This ensures that most traffic will already be flowing above on the flyover, leaving the road below clearer and safer for construction crews.
Once complete, the 440-meter-long, 7.5-meter-wide grade separator will allow vehicles traveling from Shivajinagar toward Aundh to bypass the signal and intersection at the university junction entirely, promising a seamless and much faster journey.
This entire area has been a bottleneck for years, with congestion exacerbated by the ongoing Metro and double-decker flyover projects. The new grade separator, in conjunction with the flyover, is expected to provide significant and lasting relief from the infamous traffic at Pune University Junction, finally smoothing the ride for thousands of daily commuters.
