Work on ambitious 870-metre tunnel connecting Manas Square and the Institute of Science T-point has entered a crucial preparatory stage, with construction teams commencing the detection and mapping of underground utilities ahead of excavation activities. The utility survey, currently underway along the project corridor, aims to identify power lines, communication cables and other underground infrastructure that could be affected by the construction. Officials associated with the project said, the identified utilities will be shifted before major civil works begin, ensuring that, excavation can proceed without disrupting essential services.

 

The development marks the first visible phase of work after roads along the project stretch were closed to traffic on June 4 for a month to facilitate construction activities. According to project officials, underground utilities have already been detected beneath parts of the proposed alignment. However, sections near Freedom Park Metro Station have been found largely free of utility networks, making them immediately available for construction. As a result, actual excavation and civil works on this stretch are expected to commence within the next two to three days. The tunnel project has been divided into two phases. The first phase involves the construction of a 400-metre underground stretch between the Institute of Science Square and Freedom Park Metro Station.

 

The remaining portion of the tunnel will be taken up in the second phase. Once completed, the tunnel is expected to transform traffic movement through one of the city’s busiest central corridors by providing uninterrupted connectivity between Manas Square and the Institute of Science T-point. The project is also expected to reduce congestion at several key intersections in the area. While commuters are currently facing diversions and temporary inconvenience due to road closures, officials maintain that the utility-shifting exercise is a critical step in ensuring smooth execution of what is expected to be one of Nagpur’s most significant urban mobility projects.