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Pune-Bombay expressway project work on in full swing

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi on Friday claimed that the much tom-tommed expressway project of the alliance government that is expected to reduce the travel time between Pune and Bombay to a mere two hours, would be thrown open to vehicular traffic by December 1999.

Joshi's assurance came today after he had personally surveyed the work on the project along with Public Works Minister Nitin Gadkari. The expressway project is being carried out in four sections and, barring one section, Joshi saw for himself the progress that has been made so far.

He stressed that work on the expressway was progressing smoothly and satisfactorily. Although the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, which has been entrusted with the job, had to contend with almost five months of rains and so had at its disposal only four to five months of working period so far, the work on the project has still progressed along expected lines, Joshi stated.

Joshi claimed that all ongoing projects of the state government would be completed within the stipulated time. There would be no no delays and the state government would ensure all assistance in order to see the projects through, he emphasised.

So far, two tunnels Kamshet-II and Madap along the route are through. The 400 metre Madap tunnel was blasted by Joshi for the final stages of the work.

UNI