Casual approach on part of officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has again put Ajni railway overbridge (RoB) in peril apart from creating hurdles in smooth flow of vehicular traffic. The short-height vertical rail bars affixed to restrict

movement of heavy vehicles failed to withstand a hit by an alleged violator about two days back. One of the newly-installed bars on Southern side of RoB post the hit dangles dangerously. It now remains to be seen how long the bar can withstand the vibrations.

Closer inspection of the work carried out by contractor of NMC showcased that the bars were not properly planted into the surface of the RoB. As per the norms, a pit of about two feet needed to be dug so that the bars could have a firm base. However at Ajni RoB, as per experts the work carried out by NMC seems to be quite shoddy. For civil works there are standard norms and if same are applied in totality any structure can last its entire life.

Apart from the lack of depth, which as per experts seem to be maximum one foot only, even the concrete utilised for affixing the vertical bars seemed not of the standard quality. Concrete is segregated as per the grade; and higher the one the more strength they have. Given the intensity of traffic, NMC needed to have ensured that contractor uses right mix of cement of higher grade in case the curing of the concrete is not being carried out.

Currently the Ajni RoB fate depends on role of all the stake holders, including citizens, to ensure that the bridge can last further five-years. For that all the agencies, the NMC, the city police, the Railways, need to get their act together. Side by side, NHAI that had plans to build an 8-lane cable stayed bridge needs to act fast and start work on alternate RoB. The footpaths on either side of bridge though barricaded are not strong enough and similar to bars not put deep inside the surface to withstand even accidental hit by any one of the vehicle.

Though the vertical bars have slowed down movement of vehicles, citizens need to follow the logic and maintain discipline while using Ajni RoB. Ultimately a little patient on part of people would only ensure that they are not put to permanent trouble and any more damage to bridge may lead to its closure sooner than earlier planned.

Right now two wheeler riders tend to create problem and in hurry end up blocking the flow of traffic by their haphazard movement. Also the criss-cross movement of traffic end-up creating bottlenecks and traffic police do try their best to control but its upto people who have to follow the logic.

Traffic experts also said NMC short cited approach has only resulted in trouble for citizens. In name of paucity of funds instead of horizontal bars, civic body has gone for vertical bars that cause impediment in smooth flow of traffic. Horizontal bars affixed last time too were not inserted in required depth and hence when a heavy vehicle dashed into it the entire structure came crashing down, mainly the on one Southern side. Thereafter the one standing on Northern end of RoB was left dangling dangerously on one side, towards station side, when a heavy vehicle tried to get through the bar.

So one fails to understand the logic of civic officials who on one hand cited funds shortage and instead of horizontal bars opt for vertical but what the use if the corrective measures have to be carried out repeatedly?