Strange are the way public projects are planned in city as the new DP road from Chinchbhuvan to Manish Nagar will end up creating new bottleneck in the already congested area. The project, in its last leg, is pending for completion. The road coming from behind Mahajan Atta Chakki to Manish Nagar remains incomplete since last 3 years owing to hiccups of land acquisition. Though now, officials said, the decks have been cleared for wrapping up the construction of cement road, experts have flagged the probable dangers that await when the road opens for users in future. A visit to the site, where the new DP road will open on Manish Nagar road, reveals that, it will run into landing point of Wardha Road Over Bridge (RoB), whose arm opens onto Manish Nagar-Besa Road.

 

The landing and the DP road opening are ending up at same point, leaving one to wonder whether officials of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) anticipated the same when planning the alignment of the road. Already, hotpotch situation arises when someone coming from RoB wants to take a U-turn onto adjoining side lanes, as it ends up creating a traffic jam. Once the DP road opens, the officers said, they would put up signals, but same will not ease the problem, feel the experts. Solution: Citizens say, a simple solution to avoid the snarl is tweaking the road opening by aligning it with the stretch in front of Mahajan Atta Chakki. Same would streamline the movement of traffic and provide enough buffer for vehicular movement. If NIT persists with current alignment, two crosses would lie adjoining each other, which is now the way traffic woes will be addressed.

 

Work to re-start soon: Officials claim that, the work will re-start within the upcoming few months and is expected to be completed within six to eight months after construction resumes. The concern then shifts to the widened road, which could become a disaster in making for the already congested Manish Nagar fly-over stretch. The project aims to improve connectivity, but it can also push traffic directly towards the junction near the fly-over, which can lead to vehicle clashes and accidents. Currently, the incomplete cement road has itself become a dumping spot, while the adjoining roads are in poor condition, filled with potholes, rough patchwork, and uneven layers. It makes commuting difficult for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Harry Mahule, Assistant Engineer Grade II, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), told ‘The Hitavada’ that, the DP road project was sanctioned in 2023 at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore. However, the project was stalled after disputes over road line (RL) clearance and compensation surfaced, which delayed the work.

 

TDR: According to the officials, around 49 residents are affected by the widening project and will now be compensated through Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). An additional Rs 3 crore has also been sanctioned to complete the remaining infrastructure and civic facilities. The existing road width of around 17 metres will now be expanded to 24 metres. The upgraded expansion will include footpath, water drainage outlet and streetlights. A traffic signal will also be installed at the T-point junction near the fly-over. However, widening a road without strengthening surrounding traffic infrastructure, could worsen the situation, which already witnesses severe congestion during the peak hours.

 

The question is whether the traffic impact studies were conducted before approving the widening, and also raises the concern over the parking management, lane discipline, and signal co-ordination. Sans proper planning, the project may simply shift the civic problem from potholes to permanent traffic chaos on Manish Nagar road, already bursting at the seams. For now, the situation remains caught between relief and concern - hopefully, the stalled project will finally end years of civic neglect, but worried that poor planning could simply shift the burden from one stretch to another.