A fresh round of digging at the Bajaj Nagar Square traffic island, developed by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), has once again sparked concern among commuters and local residents.
According to an NMC source, the excavation was carried out to address a problem related to underground sewage infrastructure.
The traffic island project had previously drawn criticism for its poorly planned left-turn lanes and unusually large speed-breakers, which disrupted the flow of traffic. These speed breakers had to be partially dismantled soon after they were installed. The digging work carried out on Sunday near the speed breaker section has now reignited the debate.
Commuters voiced their frustration over the repeated disruptions. “Every few weeks, something or the other work is taken up here. It feels like the project was rushed without proper planning,” said local resident and daily commuter Krishna Madurwar.
The traffic island, introduced as an experimental urban design, had initially attracted attention due to its unconventional construction using cobblestones instead of the usual tar or cement surface.
While civic authorities had promoted it as an innovative measure for traffic calming and improving aesthetics, many citizens remained doubtful about its practicality from the beginning.
“The earlier cement base laid near the speed breaker had inadvertently blocked a sewage chamber that handles significant flow. This led to choking and operational issues. The affected portion had to be opened up to decongest the chamber and carry out repair work,” the official said.
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