Nagpur to Get India’s 1st 4-Deck Transport Bridge

NAGPUR: The Sitabuldi to Automotive Square stretch of Nagpur Metro, which includes a four-deck transport structure near Kamptee Road, has moved forward after an impasse of months. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sanctioned Rs535 crore for the 5.3 kilometre flyover to be built below the Metro viaduct. The four deck structure is first of its kind in India.

The structure is, however, still not in the clear. NHAI has asked MahaMetro to talk to the state government to recover the cost of the flyover. The highways agency wants some sort of a concession from the state. Metro has, however, written a letter to NHAI pointing out that it is merely the implementing agency and hence ways to recover the cost should be discussed directly with the state government by NHAI officials. Metro will assist NHAI in this regard.

NHAI’s attitude has enraged Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari. He had convened a meeting of NHAI and MahaMetro officials on Sunday, and told the highway officials to remove the cost recovery condition. He told Metro officials that they will receive a fresh communication from NHAI next week.
A MahaMetro official said another hurdle remained in the construction of the flyover. “Earlier, the flyover was to start opposite SFS Cathedral. Now, it is starting from LIC Square. This will require demolition of seven buildings. All the buildings need not be demolished if NHAI relaxes its norms and reduces the width of its service roads,” he added.
The four-deck transport structure will be the first of its kind. Elsewhere, including in Nagpur, three-deck structures have been constructed. Here, the first level is the Kamptee Road, second is Nagpur-Bhopal railway line, third is the flyover, and fourth is the Metro viaduct. In other places, Metro viaducts and flyovers exist above roads but not above railway lines. The Santacruz-Chembur Link Road in Mumbai is also a three-deck structure. A road exists at the ground level, with two flyovers criss-crossing above it.
MahaMetro had started work on the approaches of the viaduct and flyover on either side of the railway track a few months ago knowing that it will not be stalled. Now, over 50% work on the viaduct and flyover on the entire stretch is complete. The viaduct and the flyover are standing on the same piers.
Now the biggest challenge for MahaMetro in constructing the structure will be requirement of railway blocks — time slots when no trains pass below the structure under construction. Nagpur-Bhopal route is very busy, and passenger and goods trains use it through out the day. Railway officials are reluctant to stop traffic. The new Khapri railway overbridge (ROB) of NHAI has got delayed because of this reason.

Traffic expert TS Renu said such a modern design of engineering will add to the beauty of the city. “However, such engineering needs specialized workmanship. I am sure, when finished, it will be a marvel,” he added.
Renu further said that he appreciated that planning authorities did not approve underground road tunnel near Kamptee Road Gurudwara, and replaced it with a double-decker flyover. “The tunnel would have cost more. This design is more hi-tech, but I hope it doesn’t delay the construction of this crucial portion,” he added.

Source: ToI