Nagpur Braces for Prolonged Traffic Disruption as Ajni Underpass Construction Begins
Motorists in Nagpur must prepare for an extended period of traffic chaos, with the proposed underpass near Ajni bridge expected to take at least seven to eight months for completion. What started as severe congestion on Thursday is now projected to translate into months of significant disruption, with ripple effects already being felt across a three to four-kilometer radius, particularly along the heavily burdened Wardha Road.
Initial Closure Leads to Confusion and Disorder
The Public Works Department barricaded the FCI-to-Congress Nagar stretch near Ajni Bridge on Thursday to assess traffic movement before commencing groundwork for the underpass. This sudden closure resulted in widespread confusion and disorder, with numerous motorists driving on the wrong side along the Congress Nagar-to-FCI stretch. The narrow road in front of Ajni Railway Station witnessed heavy snarls as vehicles struggled to navigate through the restricted space.
Commuters travelling from Ajni Bridge or FCI towards Congress Nagar were forced to take a lengthy detour up to Kriplani Square, nearly 1.5 kilometers away, before making a U-turn and accessing Congress Nagar through a newly built bypass. These unplanned diversions led to long queues and frayed tempers during peak hours, exacerbating the traffic woes.
Traffic Police Intervene with Temporary Measures
On Friday, the traffic police stepped in to streamline traffic movement in response to the escalating situation. Personnel were deployed near the bridge to prevent wrong-side driving and restore order. Authorities also opened a divider cut near Kriplani Chowk, enabling vehicles coming from FCI or Ajni Bridge and heading towards Congress Nagar to take a U-turn there instead of travelling all the way to Kriplani Square.
While this intervention offered temporary relief, motorists were observed using the barricaded stretch, which was opened provisionally. Officials clarified that once full-fledged groundwork begins, this temporary access will be withdrawn, signaling that the worst of the disruption is yet to come.
Cascading Impact on Wardha Road and Ongoing Projects
The closure near Ajni Bridge triggered a cascading impact on Wardha Road, one of Nagpur's busiest arterial routes. Wardha Road is already grappling with reduced carriageway width due to ongoing road concretisation works. The stretch between Rahate Colony Square and Lokmat Square has narrowed to a single lane on either side, compounding the congestion significantly.
Until now, many motorists relied on FCI Road as an alternative to bypass chronic bottlenecks at key junctions such as Ajni Square, Kriplani Square, and Rahate Colony. With it partially closed, the diverted traffic has now flooded Wardha Road, worsening gridlock during office hours and evenings, creating a perfect storm of traffic challenges.
Underpass Project Part of Larger Infrastructure Plan
The underpass project is a critical component of a larger Rs35 crore infrastructure plan aimed at easing traffic congestion in the Ajni area. This comprehensive project also includes widening the road from Ajni Bridge to TB Ward Square into a six-lane corridor. This widened stretch will seamlessly connect to the under-construction Ajni twin cable-stayed bridges being built by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation.
Once completed, the underpass is expected to streamline traffic flow by allowing vehicles travelling between Congress Nagar and FCI to move beneath the main carriageway. Simultaneously, traffic from Kriplani Square will be able to proceed towards Ajni Bridge over the underpass, promising long-term relief for Nagpur's commuters.
