PUNE: ‘Unite and fight’ was the message given by Magsaysay award-winning RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal to  residents of the Empire Estate housing society, who are opposing the proposed flyover to come up through their society located near the Pune-Mumbai highway at Chinchwad.

The residents, who have termed the proposed project as ‘unnecessary’ and have expressed apprehensions about increase in noise and air pollution due to construction of it, held a joint meeting on Wednesday evening that was addressed by  Kejriwal, PCMC corporator Maruti Bhapkar among other activists.

“Kejriwalji urged residents that they should not give up to the administration and wage a democratic battle in support of their demand,” Empire Estate housing society chairman Santosh Pingle told Sakal Times. Estimated to cost Rs 99 crore, the construction of the proposed flyover will be financed by a loan from the World Bank. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has invited bids  for the project from August 18 to Oct 1.

“Railway over bridges (ROBs) are already there at Pimpri and Chinchwad that enable proper regulation of vehicular traffic. Therefore there arises no need of any  flyover,” Pingle argued.

The proposed flyover, which is to be accomplished within stipulated period of 30 months, will start from Kalewadi, will cross the Pavana river, Pimpri-Chinchwad link road, Pune-Lonavla railway line and the old Pune-Mumbai highway and would end near Autocluster in Chinchwad.