Gadkari advocates for pillars for flood-resilient Pune-Bengaluru route

Union Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has called for the abandonment of the plan to utilise concrete bases for elevating the Kolhapur-Kagal stretch of the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway. Instead, he has directed officials from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to install pillars, facilitating the smooth passage of Panchaganga floodwaters, as revealed by district guardian minister Hasan Mushrif. The proposed six-laning activities on the Kagal-Satara segment, particularly the section traversing Kolhapur city, drew strong opposition from activists and experts. Their primary concern focused on the authorities' intention to employ concrete bases for elevating the bridges between Shiroli and the Panchaganga river at Kolhapur city's entrance. Officials had initially suggested constructing tunnel boxes (culvert boxes) on concrete bases to allow floodwater passage. However, past experiences with similar culvert boxes indicated a tendency to cause waterlogging even after the floodwaters had receded. Mushrif, addressing the issue in Kolhapur, stated, I discussed the matter with Gadkari, highlighting that public representatives had raised concerns even before the commencement of the six-laning project. He acknowledged our apprehensions and instructed the central and state NHAI officials to ensure bridge elevation using pillars. According to Mushrif, elevating the bridges on pillars will not only address concerns about floodwater entry, preventing the closure of the national highway, but also permit water to flow beneath the bridges, ensuring uninterrupted traffic. Following the waterlogging and traffic disruptions during the 2019 and 2021 floods in Kolhapur city, Mushrif emphasised the importance of implementing these changes to facilitate the seamless movement of essential supplies to the flooded areas of Kolhapur district and city. Local NHAI officials have confirmed receiving the orders to implement the necessary modifications.