The National Highway (NH) division of the state Public Works Department (PWD) is facing a major challenge in constructing the flyover on Nagpur’s busy Amravati Road. To proceed, the PWD must dismantle and rebuild two aging bridges, each over 50 years old, located at key points near RTO Square and Ravi Nagar Square on Amravati Road.
If the PWD proceeds with dismantling these bridges, motorists on the already congested Amravati Road — which is experiencing constant traffic jams due to the ongoing flyover construction narrowing the lanes — are likely to face even greater chaos.
PWD sources revealed that both bridges are over 50 years old and have outlived their lifespan. “The bridges are in a deteriorating condition and pose a risk to motorists, making their dismantling and reconstruction necessary. To complete the flyover project, these bridges need to be rebuilt, as the flyover will connect to the bridge near Bhole Petrol Pump, which must be sturdy,” a PWD source stated.
However, the PWD has not yet submitted a formal request to the traffic department for permission to dismantle and reconstruct the bridges. “We have had talks with the traffic department though a letter is yet to be submitted. During the reconstruction of the bridge, the traffic needs to be diverted, and motorists will have to take longer detours as both the locations are very important for the smooth flow of traffic. That is why we are thinking about the solutions,” said PWD sources. They also mentioned that while awaiting the start of the bridge dismantling, other flyover-related work is progressing.
The 2.85 km flyover, which begins at University Campus Square and ends just before Bhole Petrol Pump Square, was proposed alongside the Wadi flyover as part of the Rs478 crore Amravati Road Traffic Improvement Project (ARTIP). The aim is to alleviate traffic congestion on the heavily trafficked Amravati Road. Both flyovers, with a combined cost of Rs318 crore, are crucial components of the ARTIP, which is overseen by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The PWD has finished the construction of the Wadi flyover and is now waiting for official approval to open it to the public. Meanwhile, the PWD has set a deadline to complete the RTO flyover by March next year. Sources indicate that if the dismantling of the bridges begins, traffic from the busy thoroughfare will need to be rerouted, potentially causing significant congestion on the internal roads adjacent to Amravati Road. The city is already experiencing heavy traffic due to ongoing road concretization and other infrastructure projects.