Nagpur: J. P. Sharma, president of Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) submitted gratitude on behalf of VTA to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who recently held a meeting of Nagpur Metro Railway Construction Ltd (NMRC) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) officials in Mumbai and resolved the deadlock, whereby now Metro Rail track foundation columns and Ram Jhula Phase II will be constructed side by side saving precious time.
Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary of VTA however submitted a memorandum to state government, whereby bringing to the kind notice of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and public works minister Eknath Shinde that when both Phase I & II of Ram Jhula will be operational in few years, entire traffic load will fall on Jai Stambh Square, which unfortunately already faces acute traffic congestions during peak hours, hence some appropriate remedy taking into consideration future requirements is required to be planned now and executed while these two important infrastructure projects (Metro and Ram Jhula) are in construction stages at the same place.
VTA brought to the knowledge of the state government that in January 2015, VTA had submitted alternate plans whereby Phase-II flyover of Ram Jhula project could start from Mayo Hospital Square i.e. similar place from were already constructed Phase-I starts (east side), however instead of landing at Jai Stambh Square, it should be extended and should land on Kingsway i.e. in front of SBI or BOI main branch. To VTA’s estimate the existing Kingsway Road is of 24 meters, therefore a One Way Bridge of 7 meter width would be enough to start with, which will regain its width of 10-11 meters once it achieves its height of enough headway below. And for approach to Railway Station a sideline of around 6 meters would be enough, thereby leaving balance are of 11 meters for Jai Stambh Square to LIC Square. In this manner traffic coming from West Nagpur & approaching East (Central Avenue) will directly take flyover, thereby avoiding Jai Stambh. And a side road can be used for those approaching Railway Station from the West.
Renu however said that we are not engineers or road / traffic experts, we are just common citizens, however are suggesting this to avoid future chaos on Jai Stambh Square and we are sure with extremely qualified engineers and experts available in the Country, state government can surely study better and plan far improved option for smooth flow of Jai Stambh Square taking into consideration rising traffic and population.
VTA thereby requested chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and public works minister Eknath Shinde to review this issue in next meeting and take appropriate steps in the interest of smooth traffic flow and avoid chaos predicted in time not so far on Jai Stambh Square.
