A key reason for the delay is the project’s unique complexity: it crosses a railway line. According to a senior PCMC official, the civic body only recently, on August 4, received the crucial No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the railway department. Without this certificate, progress on the most critical phase of the construction—the work within the railway jurisdiction—was at a standstill. This NOC was a long-awaited permission needed to proceed with the final stages of the project.

With the NOC now in hand, the remaining work involves the construction of two pillars and the installation of girders over the railway tracks. This task is especially challenging because it requires a temporary halt in train movement on the busy Pune-Mumbai line. The railways will need to announce a specific “block” or time period during which the work can be carried out, a logistical hurdle that requires careful coordination between the civic body and the railway authorities.

The project, which has an estimated cost of Rs 65 crore, received its work order back in March 2023. Despite the significant investment and the long-standing demand from the public, the flyover remains unfinished. With the August deadline now missed, officials have indicated that the new completion date is likely to be pushed to December of this year. A formal proposal for this latest extension is set to be submitted to the municipal commissioner for approval.