Nagpur Authorities Tackle Traffic Ahead of India-New Zealand T20 Clash
Nagpur is gearing up for a major cricket event. Over forty thousand fans are expected to attend the first T20 international between India and New Zealand on January twenty-first. To ensure smooth movement, authorities have taken significant steps to address traffic concerns on a key highway.
Widening Wardha Road to Ease Congestion
The National Highway division of the state Public Works Department removed a major traffic hurdle on Wardha Road. Ongoing flyover work between Chinchbhuvan and the Mihan Interchange had created a bottleneck. This issue was recently highlighted, prompting swift action.
PWD officials removed dividers that separated the service roads on both sides of the highway. They also re-tarred the surface. These measures effectively widened National Highway-44, popularly known as Wardha Road. The road width now increased significantly. This expansion reduces the risk of congestion during peak traffic hours on match day.
Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan in Place
In parallel, the city traffic police under DCP Lohit Matani developed an extensive traffic management plan. The plan aims to facilitate hassle-free access to the stadium and designated parking areas. Around five hundred police officers, including two hundred traffic personnel, will be deployed for bandobast.
DCP Matani provided specific details to TOI. He stated that all arrangements are in place to prevent congestion and ensure smooth traffic flow. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on the route but will receive diversions. No route will be closed for general traffic movement. Vehicles heading towards Wardha or coming to Nagpur will still be permitted. However, no U-turns will be allowed at the Jamtha T-point, except for NMC buses.
Strategic Parking Allocations for Spectators
The traffic police have outlined clear parking instructions for different groups of vehicles:
- Vehicles coming from Nagpur city should take a left turn at the Samruddhi Cutting on Wardha Road. This turn leads directly to earmarked parking zones near the stadium.
- Vehicles that miss this turn or approach Wardha Road from the Outer Ring Road will be guided to parking areas ahead of the Jamtha T-point.
- A separate parking facility is reserved for vehicles arriving from Wardha, Chandrapur, and other adjoining districts. This parking is located before the Jamtha T-point.
Parking arrangements were made for nearly four thousand cars and around one thousand bikes. Strict enforcement will prevent illegal parking along Wardha Road. Officials expressed confidence that the combination of widened road space, controlled heavy vehicle movement, and strategic parking will avert traffic snarls.
Officials Urge Public Transport Use
Authorities believe commuters and cricket fans will not face traffic jams on match day. This should ensure a smoother experience for spectators heading to and from the stadium. DCP Matani urged citizens to use public transport rather than private vehicles whenever possible. This collective effort aims to make the event enjoyable and accessible for all attendees.
