Nagpur: In a disappointing development, the completion of the four-lane Ambazari Bridge has been delayed. Despite the administration’s assurances that the bridge would open to traffic by August 30, the contractor has now stated that the road will not be accessible until September 30.This delay is sure to increase the inconvenience for the residents of West Nagpur and other road users grappling with severe traffic jams.
The contractor’s announcement came during a meeting of infrastructure contractors convened by Dr Ravinder Singal, Commissioner of Police, at the Police Bhavan on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shashikant Satav expressed his frustration over the delay during the meeting. “The completion deadline was set for August 30 as per the contract. It’s imperative that the work is done on time,” Satav stressed.
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Tuesday 21 Jan. 2025
However, the contractor’s response was less than reassuring. “We will not be able to finish the work by the original deadline. The bridge will be opened for traffic only by September 30,” the contractor said during the meeting. Dr Singal probed further into the reasons behind the delay. “Are you facing a shortage of labour or materials?” he asked. The contractor explained that the delay was due to the time required for the concrete to set properly.“We received the work order up to March 11, 2025, and are aiming to complete the bridge by September 30,”thecontractor clarified.
The contractor also underlined additional complications. “The design we received from the Public Works Design Department made it impossible to complete half of the work. Additionally, there were seven to eight 33 kV power lines from MSETCL running through the site, which caused a month long delay,” he said.
In response, Dr Singal sought assurances from MSETCL officials, who promised to cooperate with the contractor to expedite the work. The bridge, once completed, will feature a widened span of 21 metres with three box type channels and an increased height of 7 metres. The delay comes as a major blow to the residents of West Nagpur, who have been facing worsening traffic conditions due to the ongoing construction.
The small lanes of West Nagpur have become increasingly congested, with more four-wheelers than usual navigating through them. In an effort to alleviate traffic issues, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court recently directed that the road inside VNIT be opened for two-wheelers. The High Court had also previously instructed authorities to expedite the bridge construction work. Despite these directives, the involved agencies have failed to meet the prescribed deadlines.
