Nagpur: Raising alarm over an impending disaster, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday registered a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to safeguard the Adivasi Gowari Shaheed Flyover at Sitabuldi.
The move comes amid blatant violations, with heavy vehicles frequently using the flyover despite it being designed exclusively for cars and two-wheelers. Originally equipped with height barriers to block buses, trucks, tankers, and other heavy vehicles, the structure is now left unguarded after repeated collisions mangled the barriers. With contractors refusing to install new ones over pending payments, the flyover has become a free route for private buses, JCBs, concrete mixers, and tankers.
Close Shave With Disaster
In a chilling episode, a petrol tanker carrying 23,000 litres of fuel rammed into the broken barrier. While a tragedy was narrowly averted, officials admitted that the situation could have sparked a massive fire in the heart of the city.
Blame Game Between Authorities
Instead of swift action, Nagpur Police and the Public Works Department (PWD) are caught in a blame game. PWD officials maintain they had repeatedly asked the police to post personnel at both ends of the flyover to stop heavy vehicles, but the request went unheeded. Barriers installed earlier were smashed within days by reckless drivers. Contractors, citing unpaid dues from the World Bank wing of the PWD, have refused to replace them.
Experts had also warned during construction that allowing heavy vehicles would shorten the flyover’s lifespan and jeopardize its safety. Yet, trucks, excavators, and luxury buses continue to use it daily.
Court’s Strong Stand
Taking serious note of the situation, a division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Ajit Kadethankar appointed Advocate Ashish Choure as amicus curiae and directed him to prepare the PIL within three weeks. The court stressed the need for a permanent and foolproof mechanism to avert any catastrophe.
The suo motu intervention by the High Court underscores the gravity of the matter, with civic negligence and bureaucratic wrangling threatening the survival of one of Nagpur’s busiest flyovers.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com