A bridge constructed in the early 90s was demolished in Pune’s Chandani Chowk area through a controlled implosion in the early hours of Sunday, news agency PTI reported. The bridge was located on the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway (NH4). The planned demolition was carried out at 1 am, the report said.
According to the report, the demolition was part of an ambitious project to develop the Chandni Chowk area, a key junction, to improve the traffic situation. Work is on to build a multi-level flyover at the junction. After the demolition, which had generated a lot of curiosity among the local people, several trucks and earthmover machines were deployed to clear the area of the debris, the report said.
Vehicular movement was stopped in the area and diverted before the blast, and the police imposed Section 144 in the area to restrict people from gathering around the bridge.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Pune’s Chandni Chowk bridge demolished. pic.twitter.com/ZgV3U6TnDA
— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2022
Same Firm Razed Noida Twin Towers
The demolition of the bridge was carried out by a team of Edifice Engineering, along with the National Highway Authority of India. The same company was engaged to raze the Supertech Twin Towers Noida in August this year, officials said.
“The bridge was demolished at 1 am on Sunday through a controlled blast and everything was executed as per the plan. Now, we have pressed earthmover machines, forknails, and trucks to clear the debris from the spot,” PTI quoted Chirag Chheda, co-owner of Edifice Engineering, as saying.
The controlled blast required around 600 kg of explosives, the report said.
Ahead of the demolition, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari Friday conducted an aerial inspection of the flyover work at the spot.
केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री @nitin_gadkari जी का पुणे प्रवास। pic.twitter.com/ib2CYNJRQg
— Office Of Nitin Gadkari (@OfficeOfNG) September 30, 2022
The district administration has said vehicular traffic would be resumed by Sunday morning, and that adequate manpower and machinery had been pressed into action to ensure this.
