Four years since the announcement of the six-lane road project from Nagpur to Butibori, approval from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) headquarters is still pending. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department’s (PWD) NH Division is moving forward with a six-lane expansion project connecting Chinchbhuvan and Khapri.
The PWD plans to issue a work order for the ₹400 crore project by the end of December. The project includes building a 2.69 km flyover from Chinchbhuvan to Khapri, which will connect to the Chinchbhuvan ROB ramp. Once completed, it will help commuters heading to Butibori avoid traffic signals, making their journey faster and easier.
The project involves upgrading the existing four-lane road to six lanes over a 7 km stretch, including a 2 km flyover from Chinchbhuvan to Jamtha. According to Executive Engineer Jagtap of the NH Division, the tender process is nearly complete, and the work order is expected to be issued after finalizing the financial bid. No land acquisition is required, which is expected to expedite construction.
Meanwhile, the original six-lane proposal for the Nagpur-Butibori stretch announced on June 18, 2021, continues to face delays at the NHAI headquarters. Despite repeated design revisions, no concrete progress has been made, and officials have yet to provide clarity on the project’s status.
Experts highlight that the installation of signals at Chinchbhuvan Square has worsened traffic congestion. Previously, a speed breaker managed vehicle flow effectively, but the new signals cause long queues, forcing some vehicles to wait multiple cycles to cross the junction.
With the PWD’s focused efforts, hopes are high for swift completion of the Chinchbhuvan-Khapri six-lane project, even as the larger Nagpur-Butibori road project lingers in uncertainty.