This Key Shortcut Connecting Pimple Saudagar & Pimple Gurav To Old Mumbai-Pune Highway Has Been Closed For 3 Years - Why Is It Still Incomplete?

The long-awaited railway flyover at Dairy Farm in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra, remains unfinished despite three deadline extensions. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has now mandated the contractor to conclude the work by the end of August or face a daily penalty of Rs 1,000 from September 1. If the flyover does not open by its deadline, commuters will continue to endure congestion caused by the railway level crossing.

The 1,290-meter-long and 17.20-meter-wide flyover, costing Rs 65.28 crore, is designed to provide an uninterrupted route between Pimpri and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion. The project, originally approved in March 2023, was supposed to be completed by March 31, 2025. However, it is now falling behind schedule, with only around 60% of the work completed during the initial 24-month period.

The delay has been attributed to challenges posed by trees and the need to acquire permissions from the Union Railway Department. The contractor has been granted three extensions: until November 30, 2025; April 30, 2026; and most recently, August 31, 2026. The PCMC executive engineer, Vijay Bhojne, stated that the bridge work is in its final stages and that rain has been hindering progress.

The Pimpri Dairy Farm road, crucial for residents of Pimple Saudagar, Rahatani, and Pimpri Camp, currently serves as a crucial route for travelers heading to the old Mumbai-Pune Highway. The railway level crossing at Dairy Farm has been a significant source of congestion, with vehicles often stuck on both sides when the crossing is closed. Once the flyover is completed, this level crossing will be permanently shut, according to PCMC officials, and it is expected to reduce travel time for commuters and residents.