Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently inaugurated the Butterfly Bridge, connecting Thergaon to Chinchwad via the 18-meter Development Plan Road near Prasun Dham on the Pavana River.
The 107-metre-long and 18-metre-wide bridge is considered one of its kind in the state as it is constructed without conventional pillar support in the river.
The project work started in 2016 and was set to be completed in September 2024, but the contractor failed to complete it on time. Meanwhile, the project cost increased from an initial tender amount of ₹25 crore to ₹39.75 crore.
BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap raised a question in the Assembly about the increase in the cost of the project by 14% compared to the initial tender amount and allegations of irregularities in it.
Responding to his question, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the increase in cost was due to the increased height of the bridge, recommended by the Irrigation Department, which also led to a delay in the completion of the work.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), BJP MLA Mahesh Landge listed key highlights of the bridge:
• Provides direct connectivity from Thergaon and Birla Hospital Link Road to Chinchwad and Kalewadi.
• Previously, travellers had to take longer routes via Moraya Gosavi Mandir or Chapekar Chowk — both heavily congested.
• The new bridge will significantly reduce traffic bottlenecks and improve flow for heavy vehicles that faced mobility challenges on older routes.
• Additionally, approach roads have been developed: 275 meters on the Thergaon side, 480 meters on the Chinchwad side.
