Kamptee Rd flyover new design unsafe, says NHAI

Nagpur: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rejected MahaMetro’s new design of Kamptee Road flyover as it would have endangered the lives of motorists.
MahaMetro had earlier decided to start the flyover ramp opposite SFS Cathedral. However, following strong opposition from locals it submitted a revised design extending the ramp to near LIC Square on the directions of Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari.
A technical team of NHAI, headed by senior officer Atul Kumar, had surveyed the spot about three weeks ago. NHAI rejected the revised design on the basis of Kumar’s report.
Kumar told TOI that extending the ramp to near LIC Square was dangerous. “As per the new design, the square will be very close to the flyover landing and speeding vehicles coming down the flyover can hit vehicles standing at the traffic signal. We have taken the decision after considering safety of all citizens,” he said.
Kumar further said that NHAI had made a concession to Metro by reducing the width of service road from 7.5 meter to 5.5 meter. “When Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) hands over extra land to us, we will widen the service road,” he added.
The NHAI official blasted Metro officials for submitting irrational proposals. “If they want to build unscientific structures, they should do it using their own money. The original proposal was sanctioned because it ensured safety of motorists,” he further said.
The revised ramp location was between VIMS Hospital and LIC Square. On possibility of starting the ramp between VIMS Hospital and SFS Cathedral, a Metro official said that it was not possible as it would block Mount Road. “We are planning to construct a subway opposite the church to offer safe passage to locals,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gadkari has directed officials of MahaMetro and NHAI to hold a meeting and have a relook at the Kamptee Road flyover plan. MahaMetro managing director Brijesh Dixit said a meeting would be held soon.
However, Kumar’s stand makes it clear that future talks will be fruitless as NHAI would hardly agree to a proposal that does not ensure safety of motorists.
Correspondence between MahaMetro and NHAI shows that the latter took very long to decide on the Kamptee Road flyover. Metro had sent a letter to NHAI informing them of its intention to revise the flyover design in February 2019. It then submitted the design in May 2019. NHAI team visited the spot in January 2020, eight months after the design was submitted. However, the letter rejecting the revised design was issued within a week of submission of Kumar’s report.