Pune: The National Monuments Authority ( NMA ) has said it issued no-objection certificate to a flyover and a grade separator near the Aga Khan Palace as they would come up well beyond the 100-metre periphery of the historical structure, as mandated by law. The authority had in 2018 denied permission for a Metro proposal near the monument citing the breach of the 100-metre rule. According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958, no construction is permitted within 100 metres of protected monuments.
T Sreelakshmi, competent authority for Maharashtra and regional director of the Archaeological Survey of India, western region, said, “The NOC has been sanctioned for the project [flyover and grade separator] after verifying all the rules. The project was studied properly before issuing the NOC. It is for public utility.
I am not aware of what happened in the past with the Metro rail.” The Metro construction was originally planned from Civil Court to Ramwadi via Nagar Road, which was later diverted from Gunjan Chowk inside Kalyaninagar towards Ramwadi after the NMA denied the permission. On Aug 18, the PMC’s estimate committee sanctioned a budget of Rs 97 crore to construct the flyover and the grade separator at the Shastrinagar Chowk, following the NOC from NMA.
Sandeep Patil, deputy engineer of the civic body’s project department, said, “The flyover is about 115 metres away from the monument, whereas the grade separator starts at .