The much-anticipated Rs 100 crore bridge connecting Bopkhel and Khadki has hit a snag, with 90 percent completion hampered by obstacles in relocating a tower of high-voltage transmission lines. The necessary private land at Bopkhel remains unacquired, leaving residents with a prolonged 15-kilometer detour for the past nine years.
The construction, initiated after a Bombay High Court order, involves a 1,866-meter bridge over the Mula River, connecting key areas like Bopkhel and Khadki. T&T Infra Company oversees the project, and despite initial delays, the Bopkhel side’s completion was achieved. However, challenges in securing the required land for tower relocation have halted further progress.
The bridge, designed to span riverbeds, army railways, forest areas, roads, and defence department plots, is 90 percent complete. A security boundary wall has been erected, with safety walls installed. Notably, the absence of a pedestrian walkway restricts the bridge’s use to two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers.
The final phase of the project hinges on the shifting of the high-voltage transmission lines tower. While the Khadki side is ready, the lack of possession of private land at Bopkhel impedes the process. Despite efforts from the Municipal Corporation and correspondence with the Electricity Department, the possession remains pending.
Bapusaheb Gaikwad, Executive Engineer of the Construction Projects Department, assured continuous efforts to acquire the necessary land for tower relocation. Once accomplished, the construction will resume, providing much-needed relief to residents and facilitating smoother traffic flow.
