The cost of the proposed realignment of the Sadar flyover has surged from the originally approved Rs 34 crore to Rs 82 crore, as MahaMetro initiated the acquisition of more than 3,100 sq m of additional land, including a portion of Kasturchand Park (KP), to execute the long-delayed project.
While the revised cost estimate is awaiting approval from the competent authority, MahaMetro has already begun the land acquisition process to avoid further delays once statutory clearances are granted.
According to senior officials, the agency has requested the district administration to acquire 3,117 sq m of land for the revised alignment. Of this, 2,863 sq m is government land comprising portions of Kasturchand Park and the Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences campus, while the remaining 264 sq m belongs to a petrol pump near RBI Square.
The 3.96-km Y-shaped Sadar flyover, constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of Rs 219 crore, was inaugurated in January 2020. However, its landing near Kasturchand Park soon emerged as a major traffic bottleneck. Following criticism by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari last year, MahaMetro was entrusted with redesigning the landing to improve traffic flow.
Under the revised alignment, the existing entry ramp from the Mankapur side will remain unchanged. However, instead of descending near the Kasturchand Park Metro station, the flyover will continue from Liberty Talkies towards the NIT building and LIC Square, pass beneath the Metro viaduct, traverse a section of Kasturchand Park, cross RBI Square and finally descend beyond the petrol pump on Morris College Road.
The new landing will be approximately 850 metres long, including a 270-metre elevated section through Kasturchand Park supported by three piers.
Officials clarified that the existing landing will remain operational and continue to serve vehicles travelling towards Mankapur. Traffic approaching from Katol Road and Chhindwara Road will be diverted to the newly constructed landing beyond RBI Square.
As an interim measure, vehicles moving from RBI Square towards LIC Square have been barred from using the direct route and are being diverted via Residency Road, where they take a U-turn near the NIT office before proceeding towards LIC Square.
Officials said the revised alignment has been finalised and the project has entered its last pre-construction phase. With land acquisition underway and financial approval expected shortly, construction is likely to commence after the revised estimate is sanctioned and all statutory clearances are obtained.
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