Nagpur: Inordinate delay in completion of roads and flyovers projects by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has prolonged the problem of bad roads and traffic congestion in and around the city. Five NHAI projects are not even 50% complete though works have been going on for over two years. The deadlines are fast approaching but looking at the slow pace of works the situation is not likely to improve for at least a year.
City MP and union minister for road transport, highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari Gadkari had sanctioned these projects — flyovers at Sadar, Pardi, completion of Outer Ring Road, widening and concretization of Kamptee-Kanhan road and widening of railway over bridge (ROB) at Chinchbhuvan — between 2014 and 2016.
Bhoomipuja for Pardi flyover was performed on August 21, 2014. Private operator was appointed in November 2015 but work started in April 2016. Only 21% work is completed as of now.
TOI visited the project’s sites and found that not a single stretch is completed. The project covers Bhandara Road, Inner Ring Road, Old Bhandara Road and Central Avenue, all busy routes, in East Nagpur. The NHAI was also supposed to concretize roads under the flyover. The roads are in a sorry state, full of potholes and bad surface layer.
Advocate Ankita Shah told TOI that accidents have become commonplace on these roads. “Traffic congestion is another major issue and vehicles are being badly damaged. Nobody knows when the work will be completed,” she said.
The bhoomipuja for the flyover coming up on Residency Road in Sadar and Chhaoni was performed in 2016 but only 41% work has been done so far. The inordinate delay has badly damaged the road. A resident of Byramji Town Jasmeet Parmar said the project has turned into a nightmare for citizens. “Development is welcome and we are ready to adjust but for how many years?” she said.
Parmar added the road has become non-motorable and there is loose gravel all around. “Half of the road is covered for the work which, we fear, may go on another two or more years,” she said.
The Outer Ring Road project is around 40% complete. It is learnt, trucks are turning turtle on the incomplete stretches. Some of the petty contractors told TOI that works have come to a standstill halt since last many days due to delay in payment by the contractor.
Only 43% work has been done under Kamptee-Kanhan road widening project since two and a half years. Though Chinchbhuvan ROB widening work is going at a very slow pace with the project only 19% complete, it has not affected regular traffic due to the adjacent existing bridge.
According to NHAI officials, works have been delayed due to various reasons. “It’s very difficult to execute the projects in city limits due to round-the-clock traffic. Also, there are issues of shifting utilities, clearance from traffic department and delay in government funds,” they said.
