WIDENING the ambit of InterModal Station (IMS), Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has now set sight on the erstwhile CONCOR Depot’s 100-acre land, now with Indian Railways that is adjacent to Ajni Yard. Already, 200 acres of railway land of Ajni Railway Colony is handed over by Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) to National Highway Development Authority (NHAI) but Gadkari said for a project like IMS the more the merrier as he said they are ready to partner with Maharashtra Government in case they provide land of Irrigation Department, Central Jail and that of Medical Department.

 

As to controversy surrounding proposed felling of trees, the Union Minister said NHAI is told to workout a viable plan to ensure rehabilitation first and ensure only minimal cutting. Replantation of trees would be taken-up with the IMS complex that would be spread over 44 acres. “We would ensure that maximum trees are rehabilitated if not at Ajni then on Outer Ring Road and other parts of cities but ensure that green cover of city remains intact,” he opined. About requirement of additional land, he said, the same will be needed for development of facilities like hotels, lodges, restaurants and recreation centre for citizens, the Minister said during media interaction on Sunday in city. He said, “NHAI has earmarked Rs 1200 crore in the first phase for the project for which a special purpose vehicle (SPV ) is formed with Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) that has provided 200 acres of land. Replying to another question about choosing Ajni over Khapri, Gadkari said it has more advantage as each area of city is equidistance from here.

 

Further, Ajni is in centre of city and hence a more ideal place for IMS that has capacity to transform the crumbling infrastructure and merge all forms of transport at one place. During development of IMS, the old Ajni RoB is going to be demolished to pave way for a eight laned cable stayed bridge to provide wider connectivity and faster dispersal of traffic. Right now NHAI is planning to cater to 5 lakh footfalls daily but plan is to increase same to have capacity for 7 lakh person/ day looking at development that is taking place on all sides of city. A salient point of the IMS is that NHAI would ensure a hassle-free movement from Ajni to outskirts of city minus the traffic snarls. Rotary would be in place to help criss-cross movement that would be constructed at Medical Square and also ahead at Ashok Square eliminating need for signals. In a way, IMS promises to transform the lives of Nagpurians and that of Vidarbha as it would be integrated with roadways, railways, airways and proposed waterway (starting steamer services from Ambazari to Pardi through Nag River).

 

The project would bring Nagpur on world tourist map and provide direct employment to 10,000 persons. IMS at Ajni would integrate roadways, railways, airways (as Sonegaon airport is short distance away and proposed waterways) and would help put Nagpur on world tourist map. Gadkari said the inspiration for IMS is derived from Rome and other European cities where for tourists such facilities are in place. Traveller can freely move around in market for shopping, sit on streets and enjoy delicacies, while waiting for either rail or catching the next plane. Further Ajni is zeroed on as Maharashtra Government and Indian Railways have planned to develop the railway station for its proposed bullet train project in future. The IMS would ensure that all road transport buses, that of MSRTC, MPSRTC and also private buses ensuring

 

BROAD gauge metro is going to alter the way people would travel ex-Nagpur in various directions like Bhandara, Gondia, Chhindwara, Amravati and in its periphery. Nitin Gadkari said, “the project is almost ready and each of the train set, basically Mainline Electric Mainline Unit (MEMU), cost Rs 36 crore each and now the project is going to be introduced throughout the country. Post Broad Gauge metro the footfalls at Ajni IMS and station would increase drastically as people from these smaller cities, five in Nagpur Division and one in Amravati Division, would come to city and catch long distance trains for travelling to Northern or Southern direction. At IMS passenger would have amenities akin to three star hotel.” Gadkari also said, “IMS project first phase would be completed within next two years, before the next general election. The IMS would be presented to Nagpurians as fulfillment of promise made to electorate.” He also informed the newspersons that Reliance Industries has set-up a plant in Gujarat wherein they are manufacturing carbon steel that costs less than steel whose cost has hit the roof.The advantage with carbon steel is that it provides maximum flexibility while giving more durability than traditional steel. Same is used for rehabilitation of old bridges but in India since its norms are not yet finalised the product use is still not started. To a question he ruled out rehabilitation of Ajni bridge as same has outlived its utility.

 

CARGO Hub project in MIHAN is more or less dead as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari batted for developing logistic hub at Sindi (Rly) in Wardha Road where JNPT had developed its first land dry port. NHAI is now developing a logistic hub at Sindhi and he sounded hopeful that all the godowns, garages, and other small units located and functioning in haphazard manner in city would be relocated there. About 200 acres of land is available for logistic hub and in future if required additional land can be acquired. About Cargo Hub, Gadkari said the same is no longer feasible and it would now be limited for movement of cargo through air. During last decade the city was marketed as next destination for investment owing to Cargo Hub but the project failed to even take off although huge land parcel was acquired for the same.

 

bbbbbbbbbbbbb SINCE the construction of IMS is going to be exhaustive exercise care is being taken to ensure that pollution is kept under control and for the same JCB that would be used would run on CNG, said Nitin Gadkari. Talks were held with company officials and they were urged to ensure that CNG fuel is used as same would ensure that there is no harm to environment. Similarly, IMS would promote electric vehicle as same is the future and for that they should ensure that all Government owned vehicles are converted to tap electricity that would be generated using solar panels. Gadkari also said that he himself has decided to switch over his personal vehicle to electric one while using the same in city to show commitment to protecting environment. “I have also talked with Mayor and Commissioner of Police for a push to electric vehicles in their areas as same would ensure large scale savings and more than that it would tackle the rising pollution in city,” he said. ‘