MahaRail has ramped up work on the much-awaited Ajni twin cable-stayed bridge over the Nagpur-Wardha line near Ajni railway station. The Rs 333 crore railway overbridge (RoB) has cleared multiple hurdles. Two of the three supports for the first cable bridge are completed, while work on the central pier is ongoing.
Sources said cable and girder work will begin next, with MahaRail aiming to open the first cable bridge by October. Heavy vehicles are banned on the 125-year-old Ajni bridge due to its poor condition. The new six-lane RoB, modeled after Ram Jhula, is being built in two phases without disrupting traffic. Once phase 1 is complete, the old bridge will be dismantled, and traffic will shift to the new structure. A second cable-stayed bridge will then replace the old one.
According to a local daily, traffic will be allowed on both cable bridges, separated by a 1-meter gap. The stone-breaking ceremony took place on April 15, 2023, and work began after approvals from Central Railway, PWD, and the Maharashtra government. Initial delays were due to railway design approvals, sources said.
MRIDC officials said they faced several hurdles, including tree-cutting permissions, land acquisition, and encroachments. “Tree-cutting approval is granted, and NMC is assisting with land acquisition,” officials stated. Ajni bridge, a key link between old and new Nagpur, often faces traffic jams. The new RoB will help ease congestion.
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