TOI found that at least 10 road infrastructure related works are going on at Bole Petrol Pump Square, Rabindranath Tagore Marg, University Library Square, Rani Jhansi Square to Panchsheel Square, Munje Chowk to Mehadiya Square, Mehadiya Square to Congress Nagar, Rahate Colony Square, Rajiv Gandhi Chowk, Swami Vivekanand Square, Rahate Colony Square to Deekshabhoomi Square.
At most of the construction sites, roads are either totally shut or partially closed.
DCP (traffic) Shashikant Satao admitted there is traffic chaos while clarifying that no ‘no-objection certificates’ have been sought from Nagpur traffic police for all these works. Only the national highway division of state PWD had applied for NOC for constructing a bridge on Nag River between Rani Jhansi Square and Panchsheel Square.
Nagpur Municipal Corporaiton (NMC) just intimates the traffic police department about undertaking cement road works but doesn’t seek any specific permissions, said traffic cops adding other road owning agencies too follow similar pattern.
Some traffic cops deployed at various junctions told TOI that agencies should plan infrastructure works in a manner so as not to create chaos and congestion. They pointed out that simultaneous works should be avoided on two arterial roads which lead to a junction. “But that is not the case, and motorists end up getting stranded in gridlocks in absence of diversions, especially in central Nagpur,” they said.
“The diversion plan is not adequate to handle the traffic flow due to lack of studies,” said a motorist Sandip Gondse adding traffic congestion means fuel wastage, high running cost for vehicles, loss of productive hours and increase in pollution.
“These unplanned infra works, though necessary for a developing city like Nagpur, are causing inconvenience to motorists,” said Rohit Sakhare, a motorist.
On Friday, municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari had issued notifications announcing closure of few more roads. Chaudhari said he will ask NMC’s traffic department to ensure citizens face less inconvenience.
Traffic restrictions have aggravated problems in the already chaotic areas of Dhantoli, Ramdaspeth and Wardha road, where motorists are compelled to take diversions due to the collapse of Nag River bridge between Rani Jhansi Square and Panchsheel Square.
Barring Bole petrol pump square and Nag River bridge connecting North Ambazari road with Ramdaspeth near University Library, most of the other roads would remain partially closed for traffic till March 31.