Civic accountability in focus Repeated failure of height barriers on Sitabuldi flyover

 

 

 

The repeated damage of height barriers at the Shaheed Gowari flyover within days of their installation has emerged as a major talking point in the city and a source of acute embarrassment for the authorities. The latest incident occurred while the entire State Government machinery was present in Nagpur for the Winter Session of the State Legislature, highlighting the administration’s continuing failure to arrive at a durable solution to a problem that resurfaces with near certainty. Height barriers, meant to protect civic infrastructure by restricting the movement of heavy vehicles, are not a new intervention in the city. Several installations function effectively without repeated damage.

 

The height barriers at both ends of the railway underpass near Gaddigodam are widely cited as an example of proper planning and execution. workable solution, with senior officers attributing the failures largely to citizens’ unwillingness to follow rules. Authorities insist that all prescribed precautions were taken, including the installation of rumble strips, reflective strips, blinkers and speed-breakers in consultation with the traffic police. Commuters, however, point to multiple deficiencies. “The speed breaker at the Rahate Colony Square end was almost leveled, allegedly to facilitate VIP movement towards Vidhan Sabha during the Winter Session,” said Gautam Gaikwad, a regular commuter. Others observed that the blinkers were too small and insufficiently bright to alert drivers of heavy vehicles in time. 

 

 

Residents have suggested a range of corrective measures beyond existing arrangements. These include lowering the height of the barrier further to create a stronger visual and physical deterrent, narrowing the approach ramp to the flyover to make entry by heavy vehicles difficult, installing advance gantry-style warning frames well before the barrier, and deploying permanent enforcement through cameras and penalties rather than relying solely on signage. Some have also suggested redesigning the barrier with energy-absorbing structures to minimise damage while still preventing entry.

 

The repeated collapse of the Sitabuldi barriers exposes deeper failures in design, execution and accountability. Without structural changes replacing routine explanations, the Shaheed Gowari flyover will continue to reflect administrative inertia rather than protected public infrastructure.

 

 

These barriers were erected in late 2021 after the railway overbridge was damaged by a speeding trailer. Repair work undertaken by the Railways replaced old iron girders with pre-stressed concrete slabs, reducing the available clearance for heavy vehicles. Since then, the Gaddigodam underpass barriers have been damaged only once in nearly four years, demonstrating that the system can work when technical and enforcement aspects are aligned. “The height barriers at the railway underpass near Gaddigodam Square have been standing for the last four years and have been successful in preventing heavy vehicular movement through the underpass,” said Gaurav Sontakke, a resident of Sadar. The situation at the Sitabuldi flyover stands in sharp contrast. Height barriers at both ends have been damaged at least four times within days of installation. Officials from the World Bank division of the Public Works Department appear to have no