Nagpur: After a prolonged seven-year wait, the much-anticipated double-decker flyover on Kamptee Road is nearing completion and is expected to open to vehicular traffic soon. While the new infrastructure aims to alleviate congestion, traffic experts have raised concerns that it could further complicate the already congested stretch between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square.
The Kamptee Road flyover will be the third in the area, joining the existing Sadar-Mankapur-Katol Road and Ramjhula flyovers. The convergence of all three flyovers in such close proximity is predicted to increase traffic chaos on the busy route, particularly between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square.
The Sadar flyover has already worsened traffic bottlenecks in the area, prompting traffic police to divert vehicles via Residency Road to manage the flow. The landing of the new Kamptee flyover near LIC Square could intensify these challenges, although the full impact will only become clear once the flyover becomes operational.
Currently, vehicles descending from the Sadar flyover land directly on the busy stretch between LIC and Samvidhan Square, creating hazardous conditions. In response, city traffic police have implemented diversions at RBI Square, directing vehicles toward LIC Square through the Liberty Cinema junction in an effort to prevent accidents at the Y-shaped junction where the Sadar-Mankapur-Katol Road flyover meets.
However, many motorists, particularly four-wheeler drivers, have been ignoring these diversions, taking illegal U-turns on the flyover to access Kamptee Road from LIC Square. This has created a new accident-prone zone, forcing authorities to increase their presence. Despite the heightened vigilance, some drivers continue to take risky shortcuts, often evading traffic monitoring in an attempt to save fuel.
The addition of the Kamptee and Ramjhula flyovers at LIC Square, combined with the existing congestion from the Sadar flyover, is expected to lead to further traffic congestion, particularly on Residency Road and around LIC Square.
The construction of the Kamptee Road double-decker flyover, which began seven years ago, faced numerous delays, including a three-year halt. Recently, Maha Metro secured the necessary land at LIC Square, expediting the final stages of the project. The district administration approved the acquisition of 2,383.36 square meters of land required for the flyover’s ramp and service roads, allowing the project to proceed to its final phase.
The true impact of the Kamptee Road flyover on Nagpur’s traffic flow will become apparent once it is opened to the public. Traffic officials and local authorities are preparing for potential challenges as they work to manage the increased load on the city’s roads.