By Sagar Mohod AMONG the massive number of public works on in the city, some constructions surely stand out for their aesthetics, while some raise questions whether they are meant for public utility or are only to satisfy urges of a few elements. Take for example the massive project at Pardi, it clearly stands out not only for its huge size but also due to delays in completion of construction. Now, another ‘marvel’ has come up from the project. An additional ramp on the old Bhandara Road stands out as a piece of ‘marvel’. The ramp is stand-alone and defies logic, since one is confused as to why it was incorporated in the project design to start with.

 

The ramp is parallel to the four lane flyover that has four arms opening in different directions with a massive round-about encompassing the HB Town square. The nearly half-a-km ramp seems to be just a showpiece, without any public utility in the real sense, feels citizens in the East Nagpur. The ramp that starts near HB Town square towards old Bhandara road before merging into the regular fly-over. Incidentally, the road on which the ramp has come up serves the same purpose with no need to take the Pardi flyover. As per road users, the ramp is confusing as nobody would want to use it because after climbing the ramp, one is bound to merge into the regular flyover traffic that moves towards the round-about ahead. Those using the ramp will only merge with the traffic on the flyover and descend at a place which can be easily accessed from the wide road below.

 

The ramp construction is still not finished as work on its conjunction with regular fly-over is under progress. As per regulars on the route, in future when someone uses the standalone ramp, they are surely going to end up causing confusion and disrupt the flow of traffic on the regular fly-over. A dangerous situation is being created due to strange design on part of the NHAI planners. When ‘The Hitavada’ sought to know the reason for the additional ramp and approached local officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Chandrashekhar Sinha, Project Director, Nagpur Office, said that it got constructed since the same was mentioned in the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Asked about its utility, Sinha was found wanting for answers.

 

The officer said since the project is quite old, he would need to go through the file and promised to get back. In fact, the road between the regular approach road and additional ramp is meant for surface crossing. There are two railway under bridges (RuB) that are located below the additional ramp. Of the two crossings, only one is currently in operation that allows one to cross over to Lakadganj Road on the other side. Due to the ramp, the surface road width is unnecessarily compromised and same is also not very useful or even necessary in the first place. Still, why a big agency like NHAI allowed the error to creep is beyond comprehension, said the locals who would bear the brunt on daily basis.