Pune’s Longest Flyover on Sinhagad Road to Open Soon

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to open the city’s longest flyover to the public in the coming days. The 2.12-kilometre-long structure connects Vithalwadi and Funtime Theater along the heavily congested Sinhagad Road. Although the construction was completed by the end of March, the flyover has not yet been opened due to pending finishing work and delays in scheduling the inauguration.

The delay in opening the flyover has led to growing dissatisfaction among residents, with many raising concerns that political considerations are preventing timely public access to the new infrastructure. Citizens have pointed out that despite physical completion of the project, the structure remains closed, while commuters continue to face severe congestion along the route.

The flyover is part of a broader ₹118 crore project aimed at improving vehicular flow between Rajaram Bridge and Funtime Theater. This larger initiative includes three separate flyovers intended to reduce travel time and ease bottlenecks on Sinhagad Road.

The first component of the project—a 650-metre flyover at Rajaram Bridge Chowk—was completed and opened earlier this year. The third flyover, which connects Goyal Ganga Chowk to Prakash Inamdar Chowk, is still under construction and is currently 70% complete. It is expected to be finished within the next two months.

PMC officials have stated that the Vithalwadi-Funtime Theater flyover is structurally ready, with only minor works such as the installation of signage and gantries still pending. Municipal commissioner Rajendra Bhosale recently visited the site on a two-wheeler to assess progress. He directed the engineering team to complete the outstanding work within eight days.

According to PMC’s project department, the installation of gantries and streetlights is ongoing, and will be completed shortly. Executive Engineer Sandeep Patil confirmed that these remaining tasks should be finished within four to five days, after which the flyover can be opened to the public.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Supriya Sule has called on PMC to open the flyover without waiting for a formal ceremony. She emphasized the pressing need to reduce congestion and provide immediate relief to daily commuters.

There is growing public sentiment that infrastructure projects, once complete, should be put to use without delays caused by ceremonial or political scheduling. Local resident Tushar Potphode echoed this view, pointing out the daily inconvenience caused by traffic. He stressed that since the flyover is funded by public money, it should be made available to citizens at the earliest.

The flyover, once opened, is expected to streamline vehicular movement and reduce traffic snarls along Sinhagad Road—a corridor that sees high traffic volume during peak hours. The new link will provide an alternative to ground-level traffic, potentially easing pressure on adjoining roads as well.

While no official date has been announced, sources suggest that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis may attend the inauguration. However, in the absence of a confirmed schedule, citizens continue to call for immediate access, regardless of formalities.