Nagpur: Taking advantage of its strength in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) general body, the ruling BJP on Saturday approved a proposal in a meeting to demolish the flyover in front of railway station despite strong opposition from the Congress and the BSP, and an adverse technical opinion from VNIT. Demolition of the seven-year-old flyover will take time as the proposal cleared with a rider to rehabilitate 164 shops situated below the flyover to the land under possession of MSRTC and located adjacent to the railway station.
Amid demonstration by Aam Admi Party (AAP) activists along with few shopkeepers outside Town Hall, the general body witnessed voting on the proposal. Ninety two corporators of BJP supported the proposal while only 23 of Congress and BSP opposed it.
Many of the corporators were absent. Of total 156 members in the house, BJP is having a clear majority with 112 followed by Congress 30, BSP 10, Shiv Sena 2, and NCP and Independent with 1 each.
Leader of opposition Tanaji Wanve said BJP was taking undue advantage of clear majority in the house. “There is no technical backing for demolition of the flyover. It is being demolished only to satisfy Union minister Nitin Gadkari. BJP cannot do anything as per its wish and in the name of development. Ruling party is handing over all market places of the city including Cotton market, Gol bazaar, Netaji market, Khoa, Santra market to MahaMetro. Hundreds of people are set to become income less. Civic body should take decisions in the larger interest of public, not one person,” he said.
Alleging the opposition parties are against development, ruling party leader Sandip Joshi said entire area in front of railway station, road from KP to Ramjhula, road connecting Manas square with Jaistambh square and Loha Pool will be transformed into a well-planned public amenity. “There is no doubt that the flyover is causing traffic congestion. There are 174 shops below the flyover of which 164 have been given on lease but only 72 are in operation. The shops will first be rehabilitated on temporary manner in MSRTC land, then the flyover will be demolished. Later, permanent shops will be constructed on MPSRTC land,” he said.
Though MahaMetro asked civic body to spend on shops’ rehabilitation, Joshi said MahaMetro will bear the cost of temporary and also permanent arrangements of shopkeepers. Gadkari had approved Rs234.21 crore for the new project excluding the rehabilitation of shops.
Congress corporator Praful Gudadhe said it will be a wrong decision if flyover demolished without any technical study. “NMC asked VNIT to study the case but latter said the study is possible only after completion of Ramjhula. Moreover, neither the traffic police nor the NMC has ever said that the flyover causing traffic congestion and accidents took place due to the flyover.”
Gudadhe further said the NMC general body lost its significance as Gadkari has already taken decision to demolish the flyover and approved funds for the new project. “Demolition of flyover will be wastage of taxpayers’ and shopkeepers’ money,” he said.
Former mayor and BJP corporator Pravin Datke said the NMC administration tabled the proposal after going through all aspects. “Shopkeepers too are convinced with Gadkari’s plan to rehabilitate them,” he said.
Officiating municipal commissioner Ravindra Thakre said MahaMetro submitted its detailed technical report suggesting demolition of flyover and development of entire area for smooth traffic flow.
Another congress corporator Manoj Sangole said NMC should first fix responsibility on whoever approved and constructed flyover before taking decision to demolish it. “If government giving funds, then it should be utilized to improve financial situation of NMC and not razing existing infrastructure,” he said.
Corporator Dinesh Yadav of Congress said on one hand a dilapidated bridge in his ward was closed for traffic for lack of funds for new one and on the other, decision to demolish strong flyover was being taken.
BSP group leader Mohammed Jamal said many areas especially Kamptee road required flyovers but BJP only targeting existing flyover situated in front of the railway station.
A heated discussion held between Gudadhe and Joshi when a proposal to approve city’s revised comprehensive mobility plan prepared by MahaMetro tabled in the meeting. Gudadhe condemned the tabling of such a crucial report without any discussion. Joshi asked mayor Nanda Jichkar to approve the report and also table it in next meeting for discussion.
