Varandha Ghat section reopens for vehicles after road repairs | Pune News

Pune: The Varandha ghat section, which connects Pune-Bhor to Mahad in the Konkan belt, has been thrown open to vehicles after nearly four months. The ghat had remained shut to vehicular traffic to assist road repairs.
The road had been heavily damaged due to landslides last monsoon.
The repairs have been carried out at about five crucial spots. The work started in March and now the road has been reopened.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has said that it will conduct timely checks at spots, where works have been carried out.
Following the repairs, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has started bus operations towards Mahad, Raigad and other destinations in Konkan through the ghat section this week.
The link is among the shortest routes to reach Mahad and Raigad Fort but it has sharp turns and a steep gradient.
A PWD official said, “The road was largely damaged in the last monsoon after which it was closed immediately, except for a short period. The state government sanctioned the work in November last year, while the tendering process was completed in March. The work started immediately. Major damage was caused due to landslides and boulders.”
The works were carried out in stretches ranging between 30 meters and up to 70 meters.
The task was challenging owing to the difficult terrain and narrow space.
Meanwhile, the PWD officials said that the work of strengthening of the stretch between Bhor and Varandha ghat has been proposed and work will begin after monsoon.