Residents and daily commuters in Nagpur are facing immense hardship as the prolonged construction of a major flyover has turned a key city stretch into a dangerous and frustrating zone. The busy road connecting Kadbi Square and Mominpura has deteriorated badly, making routine travel a risky ordeal for thousands.
A Daily Commute Turned Nightmare
The ongoing work on the ambitious Y-shaped flyover between Kadbi Square and Mominpura is the root cause of the problem. While the project aims to eventually ease congestion and improve connectivity between Kadbi Chowk and Golibar Chowk, its slow progress has had the opposite effect. The road surface beneath the construction site is now riddled with crumbling patches, loose gravel, and uneven sections.
These hazardous conditions have made the stretch highly accident-prone. Two-wheeler riders are particularly vulnerable, with frequent reports of skidding and loss of balance. To make matters worse, the water sprayed to control dust clouds has made the road slippery, adding another layer of danger for motorists.
Project Delays and Public Frustration Mount
The flyover project, spanning 2.82 kilometres and estimated to cost Rs 146 crore, saw its bhoomipuja ceremony in July 2021. However, progress over the past four years has been sluggish. Officials cite multiple challenges, including encroachment issues, disputes over land acquisition, and resistance from some local groups.
Commuters allege that the implementing agency, the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (MRIDC or MahaRail), has failed in its duty to maintain proper temporary roads. "Since the flyover work began, the roads near Kadbi Chowk and Mominpura have been in a pathetic state," said Zaid Qureshi, a Mominpura resident and regular commuter. "MahaRail carries out occasional patchwork, but it hardly lasts, indicating poor-quality maintenance."
Qureshi also highlighted the counterproductive dust-control measures. "Water is sprayed on the road to suppress dust, but this makes the surface slippery and vehicles skid easily. Proper barricading, traffic marshals, and immediate repairs are urgently needed," he emphasized.
Extended Deadlines and Sceptical Residents
Initially, MRIDC had set a completion target of December 2025. Due to the slow pace of work, this deadline has now been pushed to the end of 2026. MahaRail spokesperson Dnyaneshwar More acknowledged the poor road conditions and explained that the work is being executed in phases.
"In the first phase, the flyover up to Mominpura will be completed by July 2026, while the Santra Market-side ramp is scheduled for completion by October 2026," More stated. This Y-shaped arm connecting to Santra Market is a critical part of the project, designed to facilitate smoother movement in one of Nagpur's busiest commercial zones.
Despite these official assurances, local commuters and residents remain deeply sceptical. They point to the repeated delays and the inadequate interim arrangements that have turned their daily travel into a hazardous struggle, with no reliable relief in sight until the long-delayed project finally reaches completion.
