Commuters travelling through the Zero Mile area should prepare for a month of traffic disruptions as the major road stretch connecting Freedom Park Metro Station (Morris College Square) and Institute of Science College will remain closed from June 4 to July 3 for the construction of a tunnel. The Nagpur Traffic Police have issued a diversion plan after granting permission to MahaMetro to begin work on the first phase of the tunnel project. The closure is expected to put additional pressure on already congested junctions such as Variety Square, Zero Mile T-point and Samvidhan Square, where traffic is frequently hit by ongoing road concretisation works. According to the Traffic Branch, the road from Freedom Park Metro Station to Institute of Science College will remain completely closed to vehicular traffic during the construction period. The tunnel forms part of a larger project connecting Institute of Science Square with Manas Square via Morris College Square. The diversion is expected to affect thousands of daily commuters, office-goers, students and public transport users passing through the city centre.

 

 

Vehicles travelling from Freedom Park Metro Station (Morris College Square) towards Institute of Science College will have to follow alternative routes. Motorists can take a left turn from Morris College Square and then a right turn at Variety Square before proceeding towards Maharajbagh Square and their destination. Alternatively, they can proceed via Zero Mile T-point and take the Forest Office route to reach Institute of Science Square. Similarly, the vehicular traffic passing from Institute of Science College towards Freedom Park Metro Station will be diverted through Maharajbagh Square and Variety Square. Another option is to travel via the State Board Office Square, proceed through the Forest Office road, take a right turn at Zero Mile and then continue towards Morris College Square. The traffic notification will remain in force from June 4, 2026, to July 3, 2026.

 

Construction of the tunnel is currently under challenge before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. During previous hearings, the court questioned MahaMetro and other authorities over the necessity of the tunnel, particularly in view of the city’s experience with water-logging in several underground railway under-bridges during the monsoon. The court had sought detailed information and affidavits from the authorities. However, the Government representatives have reportedly sought extensions on more than one occasion and are yet to submit the required responses. 

 

 

Speaking to The Hitavada, newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar said that permission for the road closure was granted after examining the relevant documents. “I checked all the papers before granting permission. Earlier also permission had been issued, but the work was put on hold because some necessary approvals were pending. I have called MahaMetro officials for discussions on Thursday to review the documents once again,” he said. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had sanctioned Rs 79.67 crore under the Central Road Fund for the construction of the 870-metre-long tunnel.

 

The proposed underpass, running beneath Ansari Road (Tekdi Road), will connect Manas Square and Institute of Science Square and include three entry and exit points. According to MahaMetro, the tunnel is expected to ease congestion around Bhavan’s School, the BSNL office, the Forest Department office and the Zero Mile area. The project has been divided into two phases. The first phase involves construction of a 400-metre tunnel between Institute of Science Square and Freedom Park Metro Station, while the remaining stretch will be completed in the second phase. Given the heavy traffic movement in the area even during night hours, traffic regulation has been deemed necessary. Contractor YFC-BBG has been directed to deploy adequate safety personnel and traffic marshals to ensure smooth movement and prevent accidents during the construction period.