Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists staged a protest on Saturday at the newly constructed flyover at University Chowk, which connects Aundh to Shivajinagar, demanding that it be opened for public use without further delay. The party workers inaugurated the flyover unofficially by breaking a coconut and cutting a ribbon.
According to the party, although construction of the flyover has been completed, it has not yet been made operational for vehicular traffic. As part of the demonstration, MNS workers symbolically inaugurated the flyover, following which a brief altercation took place between the protesters and police officials.
Party representatives said the closure of the flyover despite its completion is causing inconvenience to commuters and urged the administration to prioritise public interest.
Narendra Tamboli, MNS leader, speaking to The Free Press Journal, said the barricades were erected on the route, causing unnecessary traffic congestion, wastage of fuel and inconvenience to daily commuters. “This is an insult to citizens, as the flyover built with public funds is being withheld for political showmanship. The MNS will not tolerate any political obstruction to public amenities. We are prepared to fight against such delays and stand firmly for citizens’ rights.”
During the protest, MNS workers clashed verbally with the police, who tried to prevent them from proceeding. Defying the opposition, the workers performed a symbolic inauguration by breaking a coconut on the flyover and opening it for public use.
Vinayak Kotkar, MNS’s Chhatrapati Shivajinagar division president, led the agitation, accompanied by local leaders including Ranjit Shirole, Bala Shedge, Sainath Babar, Narendra Tamboli, Suhas Nimhan and Prashant Kanojia.
