The long wait for easy access to the river passing through the city and enjoying its environment either walking, jogging, cycling or merely spending time is going to end for Puneites. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) — after overcoming several problems in implementing the Rs 5,500 crore Mula-Mutha River Front Development (RFD) project in the city for a 44-kilometre stretch — is rushing up with completing a 300-metre sample stretch at Ganesh Ghat near Yerawada ahead of the G20 meeting in the city and is hopeful the RFD stretch would increase with the city’s expansion.
“The G20 meeting is scheduled in the city next month. We want to showcase the RFD to foreign delegates by developing the 300-metre stretch at Yerawada. However, the project implementation has begun for a 44-km stretch the civic body would have to extend it to include the river boundaries falling in civic jurisdiction after expansion of the city,” said Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar.
After 2-year hiatus, capacity crowd on Day 1 as old-timers, youngsters throng Sawai Gandharva music festival
After a hiatus of two years, the 68th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav witnessed an enthusiastic footfall of music aficionados at the Maharashtriya Sankul grounds, Mukund Nagar, on Wednesday.
The audience comprised music lovers from different age groups and walks of lives and had a mix of both festival veterans and first- timers.
Indore-based Gajanan Telang, 73, said he had been attending the revered annual music festival since 2009. “Ever since my son shifted to Pune, I have not missed a single Sawai Gandharv programme. So many programmes happen in Indore but Sawai Gandharv is unlike any other,” he said.
First timer Sai Suryawanshi, 19, said, “I am from Kolhapur and had heard about Sawai Gandharva many times… I have come to Pune for my higher studies and luckily, got the chance to be a part of the show,” she said.
