Nagpur: Citizens in Nagpur have been wondering about the proposal to demolish Chhattrapati Square flyover in order to construct a longer 4 lane flyover from Ajni Square to Hotel Pride, also connecting Manish Nagar and Besa-Beltarodi area. Given the huge cost of Rs 400 crore to be incurred for the construction of this new flyover in place of Chhattrapati Square flyover, experts feel it sheer waste of money and resources.
After the NHAI and Nagpur Metro Rail authorities announced demolition of existing fly-over, many citizens questioned the necessity to pull down this flyover and construct a longer new flyover of four lane to accommodate increasing number of vehicles. The cost of the project increased manifolds during last one and half decades and this new design will now cost around Rs 400 crore according to a senior official of NHAI.
Chhattrapati Nagar flyover, a 100 meter long elevated structure, was conceived nearly 18 years ago by then PWD Minister Nitin Gadkari.The Chhattrapati Nagar square where Ring Road and Wardha Road was one of the busiest junction then and many persons succumbed to death in ghastly road mishaps and hence this fly-over turned out to be a boon for people.
In view of proposed flyover on this busy National Highway, the Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) has proposed Metro Railway track above this flyover. This stretch will be having two-tier flyover from Ajni Square to Hotel Pride.
Shriram Mishra, Project Director of NHAI, confirmed that the Chhattrapati flyover will be demolished to construct new four lane flyover to cater growing vehicle population of the city. The present flyover is very small and therefore, we have decided to construct a new flyover of 3.5 kms length from Ajni Square to Hotel Pride, he said.
A span of this flyover will be connected from Ujjawal Nagar side to Manish Nagar and Besa Beltarodi area. This flyover will land at open plot of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) at Manish Nagar side.The NHAI will construct a rotary at flyover for smooth passage of traffic from Wardha road flyover to Manish Nagar and vice-versa. He said, we are planning in view of exponential increase in vehicular traffic growth in next two decades. The Metro Rail will be on upper layer of the flyover, he added.
No pvt property will be disturbed
Mishra clarified that not a single private property would be touched while undertaking this massive task. It may be mentioned that Manish Nagar and Besa-Beltarodi area is fastest growing area of the city. The new growth took place in this area only. The population of this area has already crossed one lakh mark and it will keep on increasing regularly.The citizens of these areas do not have any proper way to connect with Wardha road due to Nagpur Mumbai Rail track.This is the busiest rail track and every time the citizens have to wait for atleast 10 minutes to cross the roads. The demand of construction of new flyover is very old and when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was MLA, he had also raised the voice to connect this area with Wardha road.He had given suggestion to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which had constructed a flyover near Hotel Radisson blu, to connect it with Manish Nagar too. But the reluctant MSRDC official rejected his demand.
Why not save huge expenditure?
A senior officer said, Chief Minister still can connect this flyover with Manish Nagar to avoid huge expenditure on construction of a new flyover on this road. The heavy vehicular traffic will be moved from outer ring road and therefore, new flyover will not be required on this road.
