On Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis will be the guest of honor at the Bhoomi Pujan of the proposed Underpass from Manas Square to the Institute of Science close to Zero Mile Metro Station, which will be performed by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Local lawmakers and other officials would also attend the event, which would start at 11 a.m. Maha Metro would carry out the work, which would come from the Central Road Fund (CRF). The proposed underpass will have three entry/exit locations and be 870 meters long.

The underpass would consist of three boxes measuring 5.5 m × 5.5 m (2 each) and 10.5 m x 5.5 m (1 each). The project will cost 79.67 crore in total. The heavily congested area between Manas Square and Loha Pul would benefit from less traffic thanks to the underpass. The Wardha Road (National Highway) underpass would be situated on both sides of the road.

The Institute of Science would be close to one end of the underpass while Manas Square would be close to the other. It would follow Tekadi Road, which is Ansari Road, parallel. With notable institutions like Bhavan School, BSNL Office, and Forest Department Office, to name a few, the proposed underpass would also aid in decongesting the surrounding neighborhoods and towns.

As you may remember, earlier this year, Maha Metro opened the underpass at Iron Bridge (Loha Pul) and the Y-shaped flyover from Ram Jhula to LIC and RBI Squares, both of which were built as part of CRF. Maha Metro has also started building the intended road while demolishing the road next to the train station.

The entire neighborhood, which includes significant locations like Manas Square, Iron Bridge (Loha Pul), Zero Mile, Wardha Road, and Ansari Road, is congested throughout the day, with evening rush hour being the worst. The proposed underpass would significantly aid in decongesting these areas once it is built.