Church, schools, and shops to lose land for Kamptee Rd flyover

Nagpur: MahaMetro, that is building double-decker flyover on Kamptee road, has proposed its landing between Gaddigodam square and main gate of SFS church. Since road will need to be widened to accommodate the landing of flyover, the cathedral, five schools and some 50 shops at Mohan Nagar will lose some part of their land.
The landowners are demanding landing be shifted between Mount Road T-point and LIC square. Only two or three properties will be affected if that is done. A delegation of office bearers of SFS Church, five schools and shopkeepers of the area on Tuesday met city MP and union minister Nitin Gadkari with the demand.

The MahaMetro has proposed double-decker (Metro Rail corridor and flyover) between SFS Church gate and Automotive square on Kamptee road. Flyover will be on the first level and Metro Rail corridor on second. Landing of flyover requires widening of the road by four metres on both sides. NMC general body approved acquisition of land last month and city survey department began survey for demarcating the land.

Nagpur Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation Pvt Ltd in its complaint said landing of flyover seemed unplanned and would create serious problems. “Five schools will be affected. It will also make it difficult for students to enter the school premises. The existing plan will lead to accidents. Owners and tenants of shops situated on both sides of the road will lose their bread and butter,” the institution said.

A resident of Mohan Nagar Uday Sature said MahaMetro and NMC were passing bucks on each other when pointed out flaws in the planning. “Earlier, landing of flyover was proposed between Mount Road T-point and LIC square. Why was it changed when only two or three properties were getting affected in earlier plan,” he said.

Sature added even Mohan Nagar road will also be affected in existing plan. “This will affect hundreds of people,” he said. Sature said Mohan Nagar was facing land acquisition problem for the second time. “Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) had acquired our properties for widening Kamptee road to 30 metres in 2002. Hundreds of people lost their business then,” he said.

MahaMetro and NMC have enough time to revise the plan. NMC does not have funds for land acquisition for this stretch. NMC has proposed to ask for Rs 31.94 crore from the state government for the purpose.

It is similar situation with double decker flyover on Wardha road and Bhandara road. The work of double decker on Wardha road is fast progressing but land is yet to be acquired for landing of flyover on both side from Hindustan Colony square to Paul Commercial Complex and Sonegaon police station to Hotel Pride square.

Land acquisition for double decker flyover on Bhandara road will cost Rs 91.75 crore.