Railway Clearance Needed to Continue Pachpaoli Flyover Demolition.

The demolition of the decades-old Pachpaoli flyover, a crucial step in the construction of a new, longer elevated structure, has encountered a significant delay. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the nodal agency for the project, has halted demolition work on the section of the flyover that crosses over two railway lines, pending essential permission from the railway authorities.

The ongoing demolition is part of the larger Indora to Dighori project, which envisions the construction of two new flyovers to ease traffic congestion in Nagpur. The first of these, for which the 1.5-kilometer-long Pachpaoli flyover is being dismantled, will connect areas from Kamal Square to ahead of Reshimbagh Square, passing through several busy intersections. The second flyover, measuring 2.2 kilometers, will run from before Bhande Plot Square to ahead of Dighori Square.

NHAI commenced the demolition last month with an initial target of completing the entire process within a month. However, this timeline has been impacted by the need for railway clearance. A senior NHAI official confirmed that while demolition has been completed up to the railway crossing, proceeding over the railway lines necessitates a halt in train movement. "For this, we have written to the railways, and they have asked us for a plan, which we have submitted. Until the railways give us permission, the demolition work will be halted," the official stated. The official also explained that the section of the flyover from the Golibar Chowk side is being kept intact to provide a route for heavy machinery involved in the demolition. The delay in obtaining railway permission is expected to extend the overall demolition timeline by one to two months.

Despite the roadblock at the railway crossing, NHAI is continuing with other aspects of the project. Piling work for the piers of the new flyover has commenced on the sections where demolition is already complete. The authority is also systematically managing the disposal of tons of debris generated from the dismantled structure that currently lies alongside the road.

NHAI has expressed hope to complete the Kamal Chowk to Reshimbagh flyover by December this year, ahead of the official deadline of June next year. However, the project continues to face intermittent challenges.

The delay in the flyover's completion is a cause for concern among local citizens who are eagerly anticipating the new structure. The new flyover is expected to significantly reduce travel time between North Nagpur and South Nagpur. As part of the broader project, two Road Under Bridges (RUBs) are also planned at existing level crossings in the Pachpaoli area, but their construction will only begin after the completion of the flyover.