Traffic-jams, a new normal PROGRESS REPORT - AJNI RLY OVERBRIDGE

 

 

 

Even as work on new 6-lane twin cable stayed bridge at Ajni is going on at a steady pace, for commuters the ride on the railway overbridge (RoB) is fraught with risk daily. The over 100-year-old RoB is now a major choking point in smooth movement of traffic, connecting South Nagpur with different parts of city. During the peak hours, the scene on either end of the RoB, the Medical end as well as Congress Nagar end is simply choatic, and the citizens are struggling with the situation for last many years. To make matter worse post opening of middle road after bisecting Central Jail land, the jam on either end of Ajni RoB has worsened.

 

The opening from Congress Nagar side is like a funnel and hence entry onto the bridge slows down causing commotion. Sometime back, the city police made slight change to avoid jams on Congress Nagar end by preventing direct entry from Medical side to exit on Congress Nagar end. Now traffic gets diverted and citizens are required to take a U-turn opp Irrigation office. The RoB was due for replacement long back and Railways had even communicated to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) seeking it role in construction of new bridge. Since NMC did not had sufficient funds, it sought to rope in Public Works Department (PWD) of Maharashtra Government. This was about a decade back and that time there was no inkling of Cable Stayed Bridge, though one such already came in place of old Santra Market RoB, adjacent to Nagpur Railway Station. In between National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) proposed Inter Modal Station (IMS) project near Ajni Railway Station they came-up with idea of Cable Stayed Bridge. However as the IMS project faced opposition from green activist, NHAI exited the project and State Government the handed over the bridge constructon to MRIDC. Now as per Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), the first of the two cable stayed bridge is scheduled for opening by end of December 2025.

 

At present, under testing condition the construction of central pylon is on Southern side of the existing RoB that is two laned. The construction challenge is mainly busy railway tracks adjacent to pylon and hence construction process gets carried out quite cautiously. Once the pylon is constructed, the deck slabs would be fitted with the ropes. MRIDC spokesperson Vinit Toke said, the slabs are almost ready in the casting yard and when the railway blocks are taken they would be transported to the Ajni RoB site. The bridge's construction was commenced in April 2023 and original target was to complete the work by the end of 2024. But due to some delay, the deadline has been advanced to end of 2025. The existing Ajni Bridge located between Ajni and Khapri Railway Station on Nagpur - Wardha section in Nagpur division of Central Railway.

 

The new Cable Stayed Bridge will significantly reduce the traffic congestions in this area and will also add to the beauty of the Nagpur city. MRIDC said the construction of bridge is very challenging and difficult to construct the foundation within running Railway Lines. Nevertheless, MRIDC has made remarkable progress, the work of Connecting beam has been completed and pylon on 52 metre heigh is being constructed above the connecting beam. The fabrication work of steel girders is also in progress at casting yard, once completed the girder will be transported to ajni from the casting yard. After completion of first phase, the traffic will be rerouted from the existing (old) bridge to the newly constructed bridge once the proposed bridge is constructed. In the second phase, after redirecting traffic to the new bridge, the existing RoB will be demolished to construct remaining 3 lanes of RoB, said Toke. Ajni RoB will provide direct connectivity to South and Central Nagpur and new Cable Stayed Bridge will provide smooth traffic movement.

 

This Cable Stayed Over Bridge will add architectural landmarks to the city. The proposed LED theme lighting during the night will enhance the beauty and will give aesthetic appeal to the neighbourhood. provision of footpath on both sides of the Cable Stayed Bridge will be provided along with selfie points. The connecting path to Cable Stayed Bridge will be from Kamble turning of Ajni railway colony and all the encroachments on the route, the shops on lease on railway land, have been demolished. Only one shop that sells flowers remains at corner of the Ajni Railway Colony, thanks to patronage of railway officials, it is learnt.