Amid lockdown, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is all set to demolish the 187-year-old Amrutanjan bridge connecting Mumbai-Pune.
The bridge was a part of the original railway line alignment dating back to the 1860s.
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It was reportedly rendered obsolete in 1930, with the new alignment.
The British era bridge along the Mumbai-Pune expressway will be demolished by using controlled blasts on Saturday, say reports.
A media report quoted officials as saying that the demolition work was not possible due to heavy traffic along the expressway.
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However, with the 21-day lockdown being imposed across the country, the work will be completed in 10 days, said the officials.
The report quoted Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation as saying: “The bridge has not been in use for long. The road beneath has a sharp turn which makes it an accident-prone spot.”
The bridge has been shut for vehicular traffic for the last several years as it is in a dilapidated condition, say reports.
A 10-km traffic diversion has been proposed for goods vehicles for 10 days.
The historic Amrutanjan Bridge, near Lonavala, which links Mumbai and Pune, will be demolished with a controlled blast on Saturday, an official said on
The Raigad district collector has reportedly granted permission to the MSRDC to carry out the demolition work from April 4-14, said an official.
The official said the authorities granted permission to go ahead with the demolition drive as traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has reduced significantly following the lockdown.
The official also said traffic diversions will be put in place on both the lanes of the Mumbai-Pune expressway on the 10-km stretch.
The official also informed that the MSRDC had earlier written to the Railway authorities who are the custodians of the bridge seeking consent for its demolition.
The MSRDC also approached the district collector and state highway police to provide security and regulate traffic, the official further said.
The Amrutanjan bridge was built by the British in 1830.