Pune, Aug 12 (UNI) Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday inaugurated a multi-level flyover built under integrated infrastructure and road development project on National Highway No 48 in city as well as quadrupling of Khed and Manchar road.
Speaking at inauguration programme here, he said that Rs 50,000 crore will be spent to build bridges, construction of new roads by the Road Transport and Highways Department for both the Pune-Bangalore and Pune-Sambajinagar road projects soon to clear the traffic congestion in Pune.
He further said, “Pune is going to be the centre of development in the country in coming times. The city is also providing employment to many people, as a result, it is also the fastest growing city in Maharashtra.”
Stressing the need for uninterrupted water supply and good roads for Pune, the Minister expressed the central government’s support for development of Pune and said that he will discuss the projects in Pune with the Chief Minister soon.
The project report is ready for two-storey double-decker bridge on Pune-Satara highway, Hadapsar-Yawat Unnat road, Pune-Shirur-Ahmadnagar road, Talegaon-Shikrapur-Chakan road and Nashik Phata to Khed road, he informed.
He further informed that Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg, which is project of worth Rs 12,000 crores, will be completed by the end of December.
Highlighting the use of modern technology for the Chandni Chowk bridge project, Gadkari said that use of technology is essential to reduce cost and pollution and noted that the government would study deployment of air buses as an alternative in Pune to reduce pollution.
Also, while giving new licences to autorickshaws in Pune, authorities should give licences to electric and ethanol-run rickshaws in order to cut down pollution, he suggested.
He said that more emphasis should be on eliminating air and water pollution in the city along with strengthening the infrastructure to eliminate traffic problems in the city.
Land acquisition process for road projects in cities of Solapur, Pune and Nashik was underway by the state government, the Minister added.
