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TOI : PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has decided to construct entry and exit points near the Vallabhnagar state transport stand on both sides of the concretised stretch of the Pune-Mumbai highway.

Speaking to TOI, Ashish Sharma, municipal commissioner, PCMC, said that he inspected the highway stretch between Pimpri and Nashik Phata a few days ago and a decision has been taken to provide entry and exit points.

“Vehicles coming from Pimpri through the concretised stretch can get out only at Nashik Phata. They cannot get onto the service road and go to Vallabhnagar ST stand, Yashwantrao Chavan memorial hospital and other areas. Similarly, vehicles coming from Pimpri Military Dairy Farm cannot enter the concretised stretch of the highway near the railway crossing and instead have to go to Kharalwadi and join the highway,” he said.

The 12-km stretch of the Pune-Mumbai highway passes through the PCMC limits. It starts near Bhakti-Shakti chowk in Nigdi and ends near Harris bridge. The PCMC has widened the highway from Bhakti-Shakti chowk to Phugewadi octroi post to eight lanes having a total width of 61 metres. The highway stretch from here to Harris bridge in Dapodi has been widened to only 42 metres.

The eight lanes consist of four concretised lanes for two way traffic from Bhakti-Shakti chowk to Phugwadi octroi post. The concrete portion is for fast-moving vehicles that do not have to stop at small intervals. The other four lanes are asphalted and used as service roads for the city’s internal traffic. The PCMC has provided some entry and exit points for vehicles from the concrete lanes to the service roads of the highway.

The provision of entry and exit points near Vallabhnagar ST stand on both sides of the highway will solve the problems of thousands of residents who live in areas from Kharalwadi to Nashik Phata.

Earlier, the PCMC had closed the entry…More