MAHARASHTRA Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has finalised a revised design to correct the landing of the Sadar fly over after seven months of discus sions with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The new plan includes two separate ramps to streamline traf fic movement. One ramp, located next to the petrol pump at RBI Square, will allow vehicles to move directly up to the Sadar flyover after the Zero Mile T point. The second landing, with a traffic segregator inside Kasturchand Park (before RBI square), will guide the vehicles towards the railway sta tion. The change is expected to save time and reduce congestion in the area. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the new design is being prepared and will be placed before the Union Minister.

 

“The DPR will be submit ted for scrutiny and approval with in a fortnight,” a metro official said. The issue dates back to January 2020, when repeated complaints emerged about traffic congestion and design flaws at the eastern end of the flyover. Following intervention, Maha Metro appointed Astrum Techno Consultants to study three alternatives. Officials said the objective is to streamline traffic flow and technically correct the turns to eliminate the problem permanently, with coordination underway with the Municipal Corporation and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to minimise disruption once construction begins.

 

Officials noted that this is the first instance where a national highway remained closed for years due to a design error, causing significant hardship for commuters heading towards Kamptee Road and adding pressure on narrow internal roads in the Sadar area that now face daily traffic jams. The original plan considered landing the flyover at Kasturchand Park, for which Rs 36 crore was sanctioned. With the extension of the landing point beyond the park, the project length has increased and a cost rise is expected, which will be reflected in the revised DPR. Work will begin only after approval of the enhanced amount.

 

The design change reduces land requirements. Instead of acquiring land at Kasturchand Park, only pillars will be erected within the park premises, while the flyover will descend near the petrol pump where land needs are considerably lower, reducing costs under this head. Officials added that heritage concerns have been addressed to ensure no adverse impact on Kasturchand Park. The consultant is expected to submit the final plan within 10 days, after which tenders will be issued. Ground work is likely to begin within two months, around February or March 2026.