logo
Building Pune: First cable-stayed bridge across Mutha River to be ready by the end of May, accessing metro to get easier

Building Pune: First cable-stayed bridge across Mutha River to be ready by the end of May, accessing metro to get easier

Indian Express15-05-2025
Pune residents will soon get the city's first cable-stayed bridge across the Mutha River, enabling pedestrians to not only cross the river easily but also offering them a breathtaking view of the same.
Officials said the work of the much-awaited Veena-shaped pedestrian bridge linking Chhatrapati Sambhaji Park metro station to Shaniwar Peth is nearing completion. 'The Pune metro will finish its work by the end of this month,' said Hemant Sonawane, Executive Director, Pune Metro.
It will provide easy access to metro commuters from the old part of the city, which includes the peth areas and central marketplace on Laxmi Road and Kumthekar Road, the official added.
Meanwhile, the Pune Metro has set a deadline of June 15 for completing another pedestrian bridge across the Mutha River connecting Deccan metro station and Narayan Peth. This bridge would be beneficial for students studying in schools, colleges, and coaching classes for competitive exams to commute to and from the metro station without any hassle, said Sonawane.
The Sambhaji Park and Deccan metro stations have been built along the Mutha riverbank, enabling easy access from only one side of the city through the J M Road. However, those residing across the river would also be able to easily access the two metro stations after the inauguration of the two pedestrian bridges. The Pune Metro is also planning to connect the two metro stations with another foot overbridge.
Pune Metro officials said they hope the footfall will increase after the foot overbridge is ready. For the construction of the foot overbridge, the vehicular bridge over the Mutha riverbed has been closed to the public.
Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast.
Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste.
Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter.
Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mystery of African Mahogany G20 sapling at Delhi's Nehru Park solved — it's a substitute
Mystery of African Mahogany G20 sapling at Delhi's Nehru Park solved — it's a substitute

Indian Express

time16 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Mystery of African Mahogany G20 sapling at Delhi's Nehru Park solved — it's a substitute

The tree currently standing at the site marked for Nigeria in the G20 ceremonial plantation spot at Delhi's Nehru Park is a substitute sapling — and not the original African Mahogany — government sources told The Indian Express. According to sources, the original sapling, gifted by Nigeria during India's G20 presidency in 2023, failed after being planted. Following this, sources said, the Jamun, a common Indian species, was temporarily planted to maintain the aesthetics of the ceremonial zone. Sources added that a replacement African Mahogany sapling has now been sourced and is expected to arrive in the national capital shortly. It will be planted at the designated site, replacing the current one. The clarification comes days after a post on social media platform X, by citizen-led handle DelhiTrees, flagged the tree labelled as African Mahogany as resembling a Jamun. The post received over 28 lakh views, prompting questions about how the mismatch occurred and whether due diligence was carried out. The Indian Express on July 31 had reported that officials in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), which facilitated logistics for the plantation event, said that confirmation of plant species would require expert verification and that they had referred the matter to the Ministry of External Affairs, which had coordinated the drive. The ceremonial plantation, which took place in September 2023, involved planting live saplings received as gifts from G20 member countries and invited international organisations. As per government sources, some of these plants were sent to India by participating countries, while others were locally procured in mutual consultation. The selection of species was made with expert guidance to increase the survivability of saplings in Indian conditions. For plants brought from abroad, sources said, the required quarantine period was completed at the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in Pusa, Delhi, before plantation. Following the Summit, the ambassadors and representatives from each country or organisation planted their respective saplings at a designated area in Nehru Park, which had been prepared in advance by horticulture officials. Sources said it was anticipated that some saplings might not survive after being planted in a new climate. To prepare for this, alternate saplings of local Indian varieties, such as mango or jamun, had been identified and kept ready. These were to be used in case of any losses, until the original species could be sourced again. According to the sources, the saplings presented by South Korea and South Africa also did not survive post-plantation. This, they said, was within expected parameters. In such cases, embassies were approached to provide suitable replacements — either from their own country or procured locally with their approval. In the interim, substitute Indian tree saplings were planted to keep the plantation site visually consistent. The South Korean Embassy has already provided a replacement of the original species, and that tree was replanted before the onset of the monsoon, sources said. The South African High Commission is also in the process of securing its replacement sapling, which will be planted once available. The G20 ceremonial plantation featured 17 trees representing participating countries and organisations, selected for their symbolism and environmental significance. These included Olive trees from Turkey, Spain and Italy; Real Yellowwood from South Africa; Silver Tree from South Korea; Date Palm from Egypt and Saudi Arabia; Teak from Indonesia; Camphor Laurel from China; and the Sausage Tree and Red Frangipani from the African Union.

Ajay Hinduja on Why Philanthropy Needs to Be Rooted in Responsibility
Ajay Hinduja on Why Philanthropy Needs to Be Rooted in Responsibility

The Hindu

time3 days ago

  • The Hindu

Ajay Hinduja on Why Philanthropy Needs to Be Rooted in Responsibility

Across boardrooms and ballrooms, philanthropy today often comes wrapped in applause. Many public announcements of donations are now presented amidst applause, and philanthropy and charitable contributions all are now associated with reputational risk management. For Ajay Hinduja (57), a Swiss citizen and member of the steering committee of the Hinduja Foundation, this can dilute the essence of what giving is. He wants philanthropy to transition from a reward-based structure to one that relies on a responsibility-based approach to philanthropy. This principle has always been true for the Hinduja Family, one of the most influential families of Indian origin in the world. Through the Hinduja Foundation, their granting has never looked to steal the show. The Foundation works with communities to support public health interventions, rural development, or educational change and they never want to be the centre of attention. 'Recognition is fleeting. Responsibility lasts,' says Ajay Hinduja. 'If our giving becomes performance, we lose focus on the people we are serving.' Ajay's belief is borne out of a value system that is part of the Hinduja Family ethos - wealth is a means to serve, not to be self-serving. Ajay Hinduja has a quiet intensity he brings to the Foundation, and in some ways, the Foundation doesn't facilitate the feel-good news but has long-tail investment in impact where it matters. This is evidenced by how the Foundation integrates its values in practice, across all of their work in India. Instead of solely focusing on scaling poverty training initiatives with externally verifiable impact designed for mass media, they leverage support for smaller grassroots organisations that may have limited mobilisation means but immense community trust. From facilitating education in the form of digital learning tools to local municipal schools, opens up circles of raising awareness for low resource programmatic intervention with collectively focused NGO partners, and adding credibility on access to water in communities drought stricken year on year, the Hinduja Foundation's look to support, embed and help others realise their purpose rather than assume the mantle of a patriarchal way of un-support based assistance. Ajay Hinduja highlights how this mentality of collaboration is essential. 'We are not here to lead communities. We are here to walk with them,' he says. 'Responsibility is recognising that real change comes from within, not from the top down.' A project that is particularly important to him is the Foundation's support for preventive healthcare camps for women in urban police departments. These low-profile initiatives have helped identify early signs of breast cancer among hundreds of women who might otherwise go undiagnosed. The Foundation does not brand the events, nor does it seek media attention for them. What matters, says Ajay Hinduja, is the outcome. Another key area where Ajay Hinduja believes responsibility must prevail over recognition is in building local capacity. While we focus on education, health care or climate resilience, our strategy as a Foundation is to empower communities to develop their own capacity, rather than rely on outside resources. This process takes time, involves a lot of listening and requires you to be patient as you support those who are demonstrating leadership. 'Sometimes, the best thing a philanthropist can do is step back,' he reflects. 'Our role is not to be the hero of the story. It is to ensure the story continues long after we are gone.' In a development sector where data dashboards, awards, and global ranks are all encompassing, Ajay Hinduja sees a different vision, one where effectiveness is not about brand value but where the measure is human value. The guiding philosophy of the Hinduja Family's humanitarian legacy has remained constant under Ajay's vision: serving others comes before celebrating. The Foundation is stepping up and expanding its work in mental wellness, digital inclusion, and urban environmental issues. However, the underlying principles will not change working for accountability, not applause. Working with respect and giving with integrity. For Ajay Hinduja, this is not a question of optics; it is a question of ethics. 'True philanthropy is quiet. It does not seek reward. It seeks relevance. It asks us how we can do better, be better, and uplift, not overshadow.' At a moment in time when public visibility so often governs philanthropic influence, Ajay Hinduja's perspective is delightfully uncomplicated Responsibility is not just a value. It is a discipline. And in that quiet discipline lies the power to create lasting change. 'This article is part of sponsored content programme.'

To protect flood-prone areas PMC demands Rs 300 cr from disaster management dept for RFD project
To protect flood-prone areas PMC demands Rs 300 cr from disaster management dept for RFD project

Indian Express

time3 days ago

  • Indian Express

To protect flood-prone areas PMC demands Rs 300 cr from disaster management dept for RFD project

Claiming that the RiverFront Development (RFD) project would provide complete protection of adjoining localities of Mutha river from flooding and increase the water carrying capacity of the river, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sought Rs 300 crore from the state Disaster Management department for developing the RFD on a stretch from Vadgaon Khurd to Rajaram bridge to tackle the flooding at Ektanagar, Vitthalnagar and Nimbajnagar on Sinhagad road, when water is released from Khadakwasla dam. 'The Rs 4,727 crore RFD project is implemented in phases for the 44.40 km stretch of the Mula and Mutha river passing through the civic area. This project will increase the water carrying capacity of the rivers and also provide complete protection from flooding to localities alongside the river,' said municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. Last year and as well as in the past, the locality of Ektanagar, Vitthalnagar and Nimbajnagar on Sinhagad road witnessed flooding after a large amount of water was released from Khadakwasla dam. 'The residents of the flood affected localities are demanding immediate implementation of the RFD project at the Mutha river bank alongside their locality. However, the entire project completion will take ten years and the 4.10 km river stretch in the area needs Rs 300 crore for development under RFD. If the state government gives funds through Disaster Management for the purpose then the development of the stretch can be taken up immediately,' he said. The project includes constructing embankments on both sides, a jogging track, tree plantations, beautification of the bank and stopping sewage water from entering through nullahs in the area. The Pune civic body has completed 90 percent work of RFD on 3.7 km stretch from Sangamwadi to Bundgarden, 32 percent of work on 5.3 km river stretch from Bund Garden to Mundhwa bridge while recently started work on the 8.8 km stretch from Wakad bypass to Sangvi, he added. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store