“If it’s raining, you can’t fix the roof; if its not raining, it doesn’t need to be fixed.” This Jim Rohn’s saying seems to be the mantra for the authorities in the city. After being held surrounded by waters in many parts of the city due to incessant rain in last 72 hours, the citizens were hoping for a normal smooth day as the rain stopped on Wednesday afternoon. On the contrary, the citizens had to face hardships even after rains stopped. The citizens still had to dodge puddles and reroute their journeys due to closed underbridges. Wardhaman Nagar underbridge on Old Bhandara Road: Despite a lull in rainfall since Wednesday afternoon, several key underbridges in Nagpur continue to be waterlogged and closed, causing significant inconvenience for commuters.

 

The long-standing issue of inundated underpasses during monsoon highlights a recurring problem for city authorities. The Wardhaman Nagar underbridge on Old Bhandara Road, a crucial link for traffic from Lakadganj towards HB Town, remains shut due to accumulated water. While the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has barricaded the area, no visible efforts have been made to pump out the water and reopen the road. Compounding the issue, the adjacent underbridge, intended to alleviate traffic, is still not open to the public. Gaddigodam Gurudwara Underbridge: Further north, the Gaddigodam Gurudwara Underbridge, often lauded as an engineering marvel with its four-layer traffic system, also became a major choke point on Thursday.

 

Despite the rain stopping the previous day, large potholes on the lowest level of the underbridge remained filled with water. This critical road connects Gaddigodam Square to Kadbi Square and witnesses heavy traffic thanks to the residents of North Nagpur travelling towards LIC Square, Sadar, and Sitabuldi. The stagnant water, with no apparent drainage, severely restricts traffic flow, leading to long queues of vehicles stretching back to ‘Mangal Mandap’. Bad Condition of Roads Beyond the underbridges, the recent heavy rains have left many of Nagpur’s roads in a deplorable state. Motorists are contending with loose metal, widened potholes, and slippery conditions caused by mud accumulation. Pedestrians face even greater challenges, often finding little to no space to walk on the shoulders of the road. The persistent issues with water accumulation and deteriorating road infrastructure after just the ‘first big burst of rain’ underscores the urgent need for the NMC to prioritise drainage and road maintenance. Citizens are rightfully expecting immediate action to clear the accumulated water and ensure the city’s thoroughfares are safe and accessible.