Pune: The iconic Baba Bhide Bridge—one of Pune’s busiest and most crucial traffic links—has been closed to the public for one and a half months, causing significant disruption for thousands of daily commuters. The closure comes in light of ongoing work on a pedestrian overbridge near the Deccan Gymkhana Metro Station, being executed as part of the Pune Metro project.
The traffic department took the decision to halt movement across the bridge entirely during this construction phase. However, the lack of prior notice or communication from the city administration has drawn sharp criticism from residents, many of whom depend on this bridge for daily travel.
Connecting key areas such as Narayan Peth, Sadashiv Peth, and nearby suburbs, Bhide Bridge is a lifeline for office-goers, students, and local residents alike. Its sudden closure has left many scrambling for alternative routes, further straining traffic flow in adjacent areas.
Traffic officials now face the daunting task of managing diversions and recommending viable alternative routes to ease congestion. Meanwhile, frustrated commuters have urged the authorities to improve planning and public communication around such essential infrastructure decisions.
The bridge closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately 45 days.
