For Ram Jhula Y-flyover, for rub at manas Square

NAGPUR: The Ram Jhula’s extended Y-shape flyover, which goes over Jaistambh Square was opened for public use on Saturday by Union minister for transport Nitin Gadkari and the deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The 935-metre flyover has “has eased our life” was the initial reaction of motorists. However, the Manas Chowk railway underbridge adjacent to the existing Loha Pul, which too was inaugurated on Saturday by the two top city netas, hasn’t received the same views.
“It has been constructed without applying any mind and appears a slipshod job,” according to motorists who spoke with TOI. Since the time construction of both Ram Jhula Phase-I and Phase-II started, Jaistambh Square — located just outside the railway station on the western side — had turned into a major traffic bottleneck spot. To resolve this, Gadkari had provided `234 crore from the Central Road Fund for Jaistambh traffic improvement plan. Both the projects were jointly executed by the MahaMetro and the state public works department.
The stretch around Loha Pul is always congested as it is close to the railway station, Cotton Market, temples, two cinema theatres, Sitabuldi main road (which has multiple shops on both sides) and other commercial establishments. The new RUB was constructed to decongest traffic on the road between Manas Square and Cotton Market. Instead, it has become a new chaotic point.
Motorists say that improper alignment of the new RUB on both sides might result in mishaps. The newly constructed roundabout too has added to the woes in manage the moving traffic, according to cops who did not want to be named. As reported by TOI on Saturday, traffic congestion was witnessed at Manas Square and also near Cotton Market. Vehicles going towards Cotton Market from Manas Square cannot enter the old Loha Pul road. The new RuB will be for traffic moving towards Cotton Market, while the traffic coming from Cotton Market side will use the old Loha Pul. Rajesh Phale, a motorist, said both Gadkari and Fadnavis have brought many road infra projects in the city. “But due to improper planning of flyovers, RuBs and roads, traffic congestion has increased on many major roads of the city,” he said.
The Y-shaped flyover has reduced congestion at the otherwise chaotic Jaistambh Square. Motorists coming from LIC Square or Samvidhan Square are now allowed to a take right turn at Jaistambh Square which was closed since the opening of Ram Jhula-II as it had created a major bottleneck. Traffic cops deployed at the junction too heaved a sigh of relief.