Pune Ganesh Mandals protest for new foot over bridge on JM Road

In Pune, approximately 300 Ganeshotsav mandals have raised concerns regarding a newly constructed foot over bridge on Jangli Maharaj Road, which connects to the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Udyan Metro Station. The mandals argue that the 17-foot height of the bridge poses a significant risk of obstructing their immersion processions, particularly as many of their floats and chariots are designed to reach heights of 20 feet. This situation is compounded by the existing 22-foot-high metro bridge at Khandoji Baba Chowk, which they had already accounted for in their designs. The immersion processions traditionally follow a specific route, utilizing Pulachi Wadi Ghat in Deccan for immersion and passing through several key roads including Lakshmi Road, Kumthekar Road, Kelkar Road, and Tilak Road, before returning via Jangli Maharaj Road. The mandals have expressed their frustration over the lack of response from the Pune Metro administration regarding their request to remove the footbridge, which was submitted on September 4. The Pune Municipal Commissioner has clarified that the responsibility for the bridge lies with Pune Metro, indicating a separation of jurisdiction. This has left the Ganesh mandals feeling unsupported in their efforts to ensure that their cultural and religious practices can proceed without obstruction. As the immersion festival approaches, the mandals are increasingly anxious about the potential impact of the bridge on their celebrations, highlighting the need for dialogue between the Ganeshotsav organizers and the authorities to find a resolution that respects both the infrastructure developments and the cultural traditions of the community.