After years of delays caused by land acquisition hurdles and inter-agency coordination, the Public Works Department (PWD) is set to commence construction of a new underpass at the busy Ajni Bridge Square within the coming week. The project marks a first for the city, as an underpass will be built beneath a heavily used junction while keeping the surface roads operational to maintain traffic flow.
Officials said the project had earlier been held up due to land-related issues involving multiple agencies, including Central Railway, South East Central Railway and the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). With all procedural clearances now in place, construction activities are expected to begin shortly.
Once completed, the underpass will form a key component of a larger ₹35-crore infrastructure project aimed at easing congestion in south and central Nagpur. The plan also includes widening the Ajni Bridge–TB Ward Square stretch into a six-lane corridor. At present, the road width varies between 18 and 24 metres and largely functions as a two-lane stretch. Under the new project, it will be expanded to a uniform width of 30 metres.
The upgraded corridor will seamlessly connect with the under-construction twin cable-stayed Ajni bridges being developed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), significantly improving connectivity across the city.
A senior PWD official said vehicles approaching from Ajni Railway Station will be routed through the underpass towards the Food Corporation of India (FCI) side, while the existing upper road leading to the bridge will remain unchanged.
However, authorities cautioned commuters to brace for temporary traffic disruptions once excavation work begins, as Ajni Bridge Square handles heavy vehicular movement from Congress Nagar Square, FCI Road and Kriplani Square along Wardha Road.
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