Nashik Municipal Corporation has begun construction of a new bridge across the Godavari river to ease traffic between Panchavati and the city’s western areas ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. The parallel Ramwadi bridge, estimated to cost Rs41 crore, is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
The bridge will connect the Gharpure Ghat and Ramwadi areas and run alongside the existing Ramwadi bridge. The current crossing is a key link between Panchavati and areas including Ashok Stambh, Meher Point, MG Road, the Central Bus Stand and Gangapur Road, all of which experience heavy vehicular movement during the day.
A Nashik Municipal Corporation official said the new crossing was necessary because traffic on the existing route has been steadily increasing. The official also said the bridge would be ready before the Kumbh Mela to handle the additional movement of pilgrims and vehicles expected during the religious congregation.
“The new bridge will be constructed parallel to the existing Ramwadi bridge. Considering the increase in vehicular traffic on this route and the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela, the project was necessary. We expect to complete it by March 2027 so that it can be open to traffic ahead of Kumbh,” the official said.
Around Rs15 crore of the total project cost has been earmarked for land acquisition. The civic body has completed the tender process and finalised the contractor, allowing construction to begin.
The project had initially faced an administrative hurdle after the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority did not approve the proposal. The NMC subsequently resubmitted it, after which the authority granted administrative sanction. That approval enabled the civic body to proceed with the bridge work.
According to the civic official, the new structure is expected to improve connectivity between Panchavati and the Gharpure Ghat-Ashok Stambh corridor and support smoother movement across the river during the Kumbh Mela. The bridge is also intended to reduce pressure on the existing Ramwadi crossing, which currently carries traffic between the city’s northern and western areas.
The Ramwadi project is part of a wider set of bridge works being undertaken by the civic body before the religious gathering. In September 2025, the Kumbh Mela authority approved Rs62.8 crore for three bridge projects and a down-ramp project. The approved works included a Rs19.23-crore bridge across the Nandini river near Milind Nagar, a Rs20.96-crore bridge parallel to the existing crossing near the Laxmi Narayan temple across the Godavari, and a Rs16.76-crore parallel bridge across the Waldevi river.
The NMC’s stated milestone for the new Ramwadi bridge is completion by March 2027, after which the structure is expected to open to traffic ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
