Saga of Pachpaoli bridge: No repair plan
| Date :02-Nov-2020 |
The road of the Pachpaoli RoB is in dilapidated condition but commuters have no other option than to use it, despite massive inconvenience. (Pic by Satish Raut)
By Vikas Vaidya :
A new bridge to replace this one was planned 8 years ago but neither new one was constructed nor repairs of existing one carried out
The plan for new bridge that would replace the existing Pachpaoli bridge is being prepared for the last eight years but nobody is talking about its existing condition. Nobody talked about it 8 years ago when Government agency itself reported over 30 cracks on it. Nobody is talking now also when cracks have increased manifold. Different agencies with different people in power planned the new bridge. Neither the new bridge came nor the sufferings of commuters ended. Pachpaoli bridge that came into existence about three decades ago is awaiting its repair.
Shockingly, the city fathers have prepared major plans for the new one in place of the old bridge, but the issue of the shabby condition of the bridge is being ignored. How much more time will it require for the repairing of the bridge is a million dollar question. The Railway Over Bridge (ROB), popularly known as Pachpaoli bridge stands between Golibar Square and Kamal Square is about 1.5 km long. It is a major bridge being used mainly by people of Central and North Nagpur. People from other areas while going towards West, East, towards Kamptee or Buldi use this bridge. The bridge that goes through dense population and over two railway lines, is being used by about 50,000 people daily. It is the first flyover of Nagpur remains in neglected state.
The road has now become a bumpy one. One would experience the jerk on the bridge either going from Golibar Square to Kamal Square or vice-versa. The bridge has developed several cracks and it was noticed by civic body itself in the year 2010 that there were over 30 cracks on it. And now after a decade, the cracks have increased manifold along with the users, vehicles. The cracks will keep increasing and people’s sufferings too. The bridge was constructed in such a way that people would benefit from it as they had to wait for longer time near the two railway crossings.
Then nobody had thought that the bridge was narrow. But with the rise in traffic now the bridge looks narrow paving way to traffic congestion. No structure stability test is conducted till now and vehicles kept moving on this bridge which is dangerous too. The glaring example of neglect of this bridge is its parapet wall got collapsed last year at two places. It was very dangerous as had anybody lost balance he or she could have fallen directly on the road under the bridge and died. Fortunately that did not happen as ‘The Hitavada’ raised that issue and Abhijit Bangar, the then Municipal Commissioner took quick action repairing the bridge. People kept using that bridge in that condition for more than six months. Till then neither any leader, nor any public representative, nor people talked about it.
It showed the apathy of civic body. People have to use this bridge as there is no alternative as far as saving time and fuel are concerned. Now, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has proposed a plan worth Rs 231 crore for the new bridge that would start from Indora square and end at Ashok square. The bridge would slope down at Kamal Square, Golibar square and Daga Hospital square. Confirming this development MLC Pravin Datke said, “There is a general impression or experience that the old constructions are demolished if such bridges are erected but in this plan no demolition would be made. The bridge will benefit lot of people as it would not only reduce traffic congestion but also provides a comfortable journey to people.” The new plan is being implemented through National Highway Authority of India. This is not first time that the plan for new bridge unveiled.
It is going on since 2012 when Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had come up with the plan of Rs 150 crore which was for widening. Actual plan was of Rs 40 crore that kept escalating and reached Rs 150 crore. The present bridge was constructed as per the payload then. The then MLA of Central Nagpur Vikas Kumbhare under whose constituency the bridge comes, enjoying his third term, had approached Central Government for the funds for the bridge. But now the MLA seems to be unaware of the development as he suddenly stopped focussing on the issue.
When contacted Kumbhare said that he was not aware of the developments only thing that new bridge was coming. He doesn’t know any details. He is also not aware of whether there is some plan for the repair of existing damage on bridge or not. With MLA is unaware, leaders are not taking any initiative, people too are not much interested, the fate of bridge is in God’s hands. Kartik Larokar, a young activist who keeps raising his voice on several issues has not formed Maharashtra Vikas Manch said, “I have been demanding the authorities to repair the bridge first to make people convenient. Government is planning new bridge is good thing but at the same time the existing condition should be improved.”