Nagpur: The construction of the underpass at Manish Nagar continues to drag on, much to the dismay of local residents. Initially promised for completion by March 2024, the deadline was pushed to June 1st. With August now underway, significant work remains unfinished. This delay has caused considerable inconvenience for citizens of Somalwada, Manish Nagar, and Narendranagar. Given the current pace and state of the project, it may take several more months before it is completed. There is even a possibility that the year 2024 may end without the RUB being finished.
Four agencies—Mahametro, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), State Public Works Department (PWD), and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC)—are involved in the construction of this RUB. Following the foundation stone laying by Central Minister Gadkari in 2022, the design of the RUB was altered, which was cited as a reason for the delay. The question arises whether a complete plan was prepared before the foundation stone was laid.
The road connecting Somalwada and Manish Nagar also linked Wardha Road directly to Beltarodi Road. The level crossing here, closing every 4 to 7 minutes, caused significant vehicle congestion, wasting a lot of time for residents on both sides. Although Mahametro has constructed an underpass and an overbridge just 400 meters away, the citizens have not yet found relief. As a result, the RUB construction began, but despite being ongoing for two years, it remains unfinished.
The market’s vibrancy from Manish Nagar to Beltarodi Road has vanished, with shopkeepers facing dwindling traffic due to the near halt of vehicular movement. The RUB is being designed with a special drainage system to prevent waterlogging during rains, but its effectiveness will only be proven after completion and subsequent rains.
Key Features of the RUB:
– Special drainage system to prevent waterlogging
– Push-back technology used for the railway track’s lower section
– Structure under all four railway tracks completed
– Ramp security wall shuttering ongoing
– Pending works include cement road ramp and road construction on the RUB
The Nagpur-Mumbai route, along with the South India route, is quite busy, and the simultaneous work on Nagpur-Wardha’s third and fourth lines has caused technical delays. However, the question remains whether all these plans were prepared in advance. The continuous extension of deadlines has become a source of frustration for local citizens.
The current state of work suggests that local residents will not see relief for several more months.