Baba Bhide Bridge in Pune’s Deccan Gymkhana has reopened to vehicles and pedestrians after months of restrictions, easing movement between JM Road, Deccan Gymkhana and the Peth areas ahead of the Diwali shopping rush. Maha Metro has relaxed the closure as construction of the foot overbridge at the site enters its final phase.
The bridge will remain open on most days, with closures planned only when specific construction activities require the movement of equipment or work crews. A Maha Metro official said a full-day closure was no longer necessary because the foot overbridge project had progressed sufficiently to allow traffic movement.
The reopening has reduced traffic pressure on JM Road, Lakdi Pul and parts of Deccan Gymkhana and the Peth areas. The route is an important connection for commuters travelling between the central Pune neighbourhoods, particularly during the period of increased shopping and pedestrian activity before Diwali.
However, the easing has not eliminated congestion in the surrounding area. Commuters reported that traffic continued to build up across the neighbourhood during the three days after the bridge reopened. The continuing congestion reflects the pressure created by construction activity, local traffic and increased seasonal movement in one of central Pune’s busiest urban zones.
Work on the foot overbridge is continuing at the site. Officials said its basic structure was ready and that the launching of the girder would be carried out in phases. Barricading will remain in place for a few more days while the remaining construction activities proceed.
The remaining work is expected to be completed by December, according to the report. Once operational, the foot overbridge will provide direct access for commuters travelling from Deccan Gymkhana Metro station towards Sadashiv Peth and Narayan Peth.
The project is intended to connect metro users with neighbourhoods on the eastern side of the bridge while reducing the need for pedestrians to negotiate busy road space. Its final construction stages will therefore continue to affect how vehicles and pedestrians move through the area, even as the bridge itself returns to regular use.
Maha Metro has not announced a permanent end to all restrictions at the site. Instead, officials said closures would be imposed when required for specific construction work. The next major milestone is the phased girder launch, followed by completion of the foot overbridge project expected in December.
