Double-Decker RoB at Narendra Nagar: PWD exploring viability

 

 

 

A new railway overbridge (RoB) planned for easing connectivity to Manish Nagar area would be a piece of engineering marvel if the plans of Public Works Department (PWD) materialise as they set sight on the T-point near Narendra Heights. The engineers as of now have agreed upon one arm that would run parallel to existing Radisson Blu RoB, one that would ensure uninterrupted movement towards Jaiprakash Nagar from Manish Nagar side. While this solves the problem of one way movement, the PWD officials are also working on another theory of having a similar approach from other side of existing RoB that would then rise above the four way existing bridge and land on the other side, that is on the road leading towards the Somalwada Railway Crossing T-point.

 

 

 

Krusha Gharde, Executive Engineer, World Bank Division, PWD, Nagpur Region, stated that their task has become complicated owing to short width of the approach road needed for constructing take off for the RoB. The UP ramp coming from Manish Nagar side, she mentioned would start about 250 to 300 metres from the existing railway crossing T-point and then the bridge would cross over the existing four railway lines, and run parallel to existing RoB and then come down towards Jaiprakash Nagar side. It means, there would no merger with the existing RoB as was thought earlier, but rather the new RoB would run parallel to it and then land towards Jaiprakash Nagar, she explained. This structure would have ramp of 180 metres.

 

A similar approach is being thought off on the other side, where the ramp would start from Jaiprakash Nagar end and rise in the middle near the railway line to enable crossing over the existing RoB. Thereafter RoB's landing would be on the other side, on Narendra Nagar extension side, and it would be a double-decker bridge. However, Gharde said, this second arm option of proposed RoB is more challenging since there is no clear right of way available due to narrow width of road landing on Narendra Nagar extension side. For this second arm, a ramp of 150 metres is proposed. The maximum available width is proposed at 3.75 metres for the carriageway of the RoB. Both the arms of new RoB at Narendra Nagar-Jaiprakash Nagar axis point would have 1250 metres of approaches. The problem however is narrow width of the existing road on which the RoB landing is planned as it is only 7 metres, just enough for two lane road. And as plan is for paved shoulders it would required additional land. Senior PWD officials inspected the site on either side of railway track and as of now the drawings for only one arm of the new RoB is being worked upon. Similarly, the tender floated for the ambitious project would also have a component of a foot over bridge (FoB) taking into account needs of pedestrians. An FoB is present on the existing RoB but not many persons are seen using the structure.

 

 

In addition to the RoB, the PWD's World Bank Division is also exploring possibility of constructing a tunnel to establish connect between Narendra Nagar and Jaiprakash Nagar that are separated due to railway lines. The idea is being worked upon in case the RoB plan does not materialise, stated Krusha Gharde. The proposed tunnel would be a limited height subway (LHS) and have separate entry and exit points. But here too there are many challenges since there is no much depth that would be available as the existing railway lines are parallel of existing roads. So PWD officials are in bind on how to go about this complicated aspect. The drawings of this mega project is not yet materialised even as various theories are being worked upon, said Gharde further. She said there is no issue of finance as State Government has provided money for the same.

 

Right now, survey is on for finalising the alignment for RoB plus RuB and final decision will taken after the feasibility study is completed, Gharde said. She admitted that there is also an issue of encroachment on the 7 metres road width that stretches from Narendra Nagar heights turning towards Khapri. If this project materialises then this road would be parallel to existing Wardha Road, from Jaiprakash Nagar till Khapri. PWD has floated EPC tender and post construction the successful bidder would also be responsible for maintenance during the defect liability period that would be 20-years.