Nagpur: The Wanjari Nagar flyover (connecting Umred Road and Wardha Road), constructed by the state public works department for a cost of Rs16 crore is going to land into a traffic mess according to motorists.
Towards the railwaymen’s school side, the fly over lands smack into the road connecting Medical Chowk and Ajni creating a needless T-point. However, there is no such problem on the Wanjari Nagar water tank side as the road is very wide at the other end.
Motorists coming down the wide flyover will go head-on with vehicles coming from TB Ward.
With the flyover to be thrown open on January 23 by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, the state PWD is trying to take corrective measures. Its officials have convened a meeting with the NMC’s electrical department to discuss if a traffic signal will help in regulating the traffic.
The flyover has been constructed by DV Patel Company with the money coming Central Road Fund sanctioned by Gadkari’s ministry. The work began in January 2019 and was to be completed within 18 months. It got delayed due to Covid-induced lockdown.
The flyover was built to ease traffic as motorists coming from South Nagpur has to go through a narrow road between the railway quarters and Wanjari Nagar that joins TB Ward Square.
“The road was part of the development plan. But the mindless design has defeated the purpose,” said former mayor Sandip Joshi who took to the social media to criticize the government agency for constructing such a mindless design.
“The flyover has created an accident-prone spot,” he added.
Former corporator Tanveer Ahmed has demanded a high-level inquiry to find out who sanctioned the plan without studying the existing roads on either side of the flyover. He also wanted action to be taken against engineers for turning a good project into accident prone spots.
“The point where the flyover meets the road will be chaotic,” said senior traffic PI and in-charge of Ajni traffic zone Manohar Kotnake, adding that cops will have to be permanently stationed at the spot.
PWD superintending engineer Vidyadhar Sardeshmukh was not available for comments. Deputy engineer Swati Godbole said the existing two-lane Ajni Road too will be widened soon. “To overcome the present situation, the PWD will be installing traffic signals on Ajni road side,” she said.
WOMAN ENGINEERS
The flyover work was monitored by state PWD’s women engineers. Deputy engineer Vaishali Godbole, junior engineer Vandana Havelikar and assistant engineer Madhuri Madavi worked hard for the completion of the project. “Superintending engineer Sardeshmukh and executive engineer Ajay Pohekar of the department provided guidance to us,” one the women engineers told TOI.
FLYOVER FACTS
From/To | Wanjari Nagar (Umred Road) to Ajni (Wardha Road)
Length | 524 metres
Width | 30 metres
Cost | Rs16 crore
Project start | January 2019
Lanes | Six with bicycle track and footpath
FLAWS
No problem on Wanjari Nagar water tank side. Road narrow on Ajni road side. Traffic coming down on collision course
SOLUTION AT SITE: PWD to install traffic signals at Ajni road side
FLAWED DEVELOPMENT
* Railway Station Flyover
* Ajni Jail Road
*Ram Jhula Phase-II
* Sadar Flyover
CURTAIN RAISER
Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, standing committee chairman Vijay Zalke to inaugurate flyover at Sant Ravidas Sabha Gruha at 6pm on January 23. At 8pm at Onkar Celebratiion Hall, Dighori, they will also dedicate 2 km long cement road connecting Suyog Nagar and Mandewada. The Rs17 crore project too was sanctioned under Central Road Fund