Old Bridges Delay Construction of New Flyover on Amravati Road.

The National Highway (NH) division of the state Public Works Department (PWD) is facing significant hurdles in the construction of a new flyover on Amravati Road in Nagpur. The project is complicated by the need to dismantle and reconstruct two aging bridges, located at RTO Square and Ravi Nagar Square, which are over 50 years old and in a dilapidated state.

These bridges are critical junctures for the busy Amravati Road, which is already congested due to the ongoing flyover construction. The dismantling and rebuilding of these bridges are essential for the flyover, which will land near Bhole Petrol Pump and requires a robust foundation.

PWD officials acknowledge that the bridges must be replaced to ensure safety and support the new flyover. However, they have yet to submit a formal request to the traffic department for permission to proceed with the dismantling, which is expected to cause significant traffic disruptions. "The bridges are in a deteriorated condition and pose a risk to motorists. We need to rebuild them to complete the flyover. We are considering solutions to minimize traffic chaos during this process," said a PWD source.

The 2.85 km flyover, part of the Rs. 478 crore Amravati Road Traffic Improvement Project (ARTIP), aims to alleviate congestion on Amravati Road. The project, which includes the Wadi flyover, is being executed at a cost of Rs 318 crore and is overseen by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). While the Wadi flyover is complete and awaiting inauguration, the RTO flyover is scheduled for completion by March next year.

PWD sources indicate that once the dismantling of the bridges begins, traffic will need to be rerouted, leading to possible chaos on internal roads adjacent to Amravati Road. This situation is exacerbated by ongoing roadwork and infrastructure projects throughout the city.

ET