Title - Akurdi station subway to be completed by February 15

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad New Township Development Authority (PCNTDA) has resumed construction of the subway near Akurdi railway station and the work is expected to be completed by February 15.The subway is being constructed using the 'push box' technology. PCNTDA executive engineer Vasant Patil said, "The work of pushing two concrete boxes under the railway tracks has resumed after receiving permission from the railway administration and will be completed by the end of January. We expect to complete the road work inside the boxes and the approach roads to the subway by February 15."Explaining the subway digging process, Patil said, "There are two separate boxes for the up and down vehicular traffic. The soil below the tracks will be slowly dug up and the boxes will be inserted. The railway administration has allotted us specific days for this work. Train traffic will be stopped in the afternoon on these days as a precautionary measure." The two boxes have been constructed near the Gurudwara side of the railway tracks near Akurdi railway station.The bids for the subway project were invited in March 2010 and the work order was given in May that year. The project, costing Rs 8.1 crore, was to be completed in 15 months.Patil said, "Light commercial vehicles, cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers can use the subway to cross the railway tracks. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to use the subway. It will benefit the residents of Akurdi and Nigdi going towards Ravet, Chinchwad, the Katraj-Dehu road bypass and nearby areas."

At present, the old subway near Akurdi station connects Ravet, Kiwale, Walhekarwadi and other areas with the old Pune-Mumbai highway and Nigdi Pradhikaran areas. However, water overflowing from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's water purification plant in Nigdi results in extensive waterlogging at the subway. Moreover, sewage and rainwater from the nearby areas also enters the subway.

A number of minor accidents have occurred due to two-wheelers skidding over the wet road. As a result, residents of Akurdi, Ravet and Nigdi have been demanding a new subway.

Akurdi resident Madhav Mane said, "The new subway will provide Nigdi and Akurdi residents a faster and safer way to travel to areas around DY Patil College and Ravet. Unfortunately, the work had been delayed due to the lack of coordination between PCNTDA and the railways."

Sudhir Shinde, a resident of Nigdi, said, "At present, vehicles have to take a detour of over a kilometre to use the Bijlinagar railway overbridge during monsoon, when the existing subway cannot be used due to waterlogging. The PCNTDA should complete the construction of the subway as soon as possible and before the onset of monsoon season."