Half-hearted attempt on part of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) continues to push Ajni Railway over bridge (RoB) in a danger zone as unchecked movement of heavy vehicle continues to take it toll. Already a glimpse of unchecked speed on RoB was witnessed a few days earlier when a four wheeler damaged part of the boundary wall. That was a warning call and it knocked civic officials from their deep slumber and they quickly affixed horizontal poles as was decided. However one expected NMC to complete the task on hand on a fast track mode given the rising danger. But what one finds is that officials have just put in place two poles that to on one side only and that is not sufficient to prevent entry of heavy vehicles on the dilapidated RoB. Two days back, civic officials put in place two poles on the Western end of the RoB with a view to reduce the width.

 

 

 

The plan is that with shorter space, heavy vehicles entry would get restricted. Only two wheelers and four wheelers within regulated weight can pass through the gap between the poles. NMC officials had finalised the option as earlier attempt at height barrier failed to withstand the crash test and once damaged repairing the same was not a profitable idea. Repeatedly heavy vehicles tried to nudge past the barrier and in process damaged them beyond repair. Hence after Central Railway officials served a warning that they would shutdown entry on RoB, NMC swung into action and decided on affixing short height poles placed a few feets apart in horizontal sequence. Safety officials said that the plan to prevent entry of heavy vehicles on RoB would work only when the poles are installed on either end of the bridge and that too at the earliest. Given the slow pace of civic work, Railway officials are apprehensive that in the process the RoB should not further deteriorate.

 

The pillars of the RoB has been strengthened with support of wooden rafters so that they can sustain the weight. Similarly given the increasing vibration due to passing trains, it was felt that some measures were needed to increase the life of RoB till an alternate one is built. Now in absence of any hurdles, heavy vehicles criss-cross the Ajni RoB unchecked. Even traffic police have failed to regulate entry of heavy vehicles in city, as there is ban on their plying. Heavy vehicles skip the outer ring road to avoid paying toll and move through city internal roads using the Ajni RoB to reach over to Bhandara Road and on other side for moving onto Wardha Road for travel ahead. So for NMC the task is cut out as in larger public interest they need to wrap-up affixing of iron poles as fast as possible. Given the heavy volume of traffic, and jams that occur during peak evening time, the boundary wall to needs to be repaired as otherwise a major mishap is waiting to happen.