New Bundgarden bridge to open in three months

PMC says only finishing touches left

New Bundgarden bridge to open in three months

PMC says only finishing touches left

The new Bundgarden bridge, a major infrastructure project that will help reduce traffic on the Bundgarden Road, is nearing completion and is likely to be ready for use in three months.The PMC says it has almost finished laying the new bridge, which runs parallel to the Fitzgerald bridge, also known as the old Yerawada bridge in popular parlance.

On track: The new Bundgarden bridge, which will reduce congestion on
the Bundgarden Road once it becomes functional. Pic/Ishan Ghosh

According to PMC officials, the new, four-lane bridge now is waiting only for the finishing touches to be called complete. "Some painting on the dividers, minor concreting and tiling work remain. The concreting on the Bundgarden side is the only work which requires some digging, which too will be finished soon. We also have to shift some electric poles near the bridge, which will be done in coordination with the other departments," said Additional City Engineer (Projects) Srinivas Bonala.

"The bridge will be thrown open to traffic in three months." Undertaken at a cost of around Rs 26 crore, the construction of the bridge began in 2006 after approval from the PMC Standing Committee. The arch bridge is 17 metres wide and the PMC says it has been aesthetically designed to replicate the look of the heritage masonry work on the old Yerawada bridge.

The new bridge had faced opposition from activists and local residents, who were against the felling of trees near the historic Bundgarden. The bridge will help solve traffic problems on Bundgarden road and MG junction since vehicles heading towards Nagar Road and the airport can use it, thus reducing traffic jams at the Sadal Baba and Parnakuti junctions.

The need for the new bridge was felt as the older, two-lane Yerawada bridge was not able to accommodate the large volume of traffic coming from Bundgarden Road and going to Nagar Road.

Rs 26 cr
The cost of laying the new Bundgarden bridge