After the vehement protest from the citizens, finally Maha Metro has cancelled its plan for the proposed 500 metre road passing through Bharat Van, the semi forest area in middle of the city.
The proposed road would have led to felling of 568 trees which will adversely affecting the different species of birds and animals. The project had created commotion among citizens who joined hands to oppose plans to destroy Bharat Van.
As per information, the decision to cancel the road work was taken in a joint meeting of the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited, State Public Works Department and Nagpur Municipal Corporation. As per sources, the Central Road Fund (CRF) has sanctioned an amount of Rs.112 crore for the works of road in front of Futala Lake, Viewers’ gallery, 500 metre road from Bharat Van, cement concrete road in the Futala Lake from Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran.The work of constructing road from Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran to Futala Lake had already begun. However, with the above mentioned decision, this work is likely to be stopped and incomplete work will be completed.
Earlier there was plan to construct a tunnel road through Futala and for that to divert vehicular traffic alternate road through Bharat Nagar area was proposed. But as Maha Metro has shelved the plan for tunnel road, at present there is no need for road through Bharat Van. And the stiff opposition from citizens and later intervention from High Court, Maha Metro and backers of the project to cut through Bharat Van had to back off.