Nagpur: While the newly developed Ashok Square rotary has emerged as one of the city's most eye-catching infrastructure landmarks, commuters continue to struggle with traffic congestion and poor road conditions due to incomplete work beneath the elevated structure. Despite major progress on the five-armed rotary and flyover corridor developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the surface-level road network below the structure remains riddled with uneven stretches, bottlenecks and ongoing construction activity, leading to daily traffic snarls at one of the city's busiest intersections.
TOI on multiple occasions has highlighted the traffic chaos caused by the road below the elevated rotary at Ashok Square and the problems faced by hundreds of commuters due to ongoing work. A recent visit to the location revealed that heavy traffic congestion continues during peak hours as multiple portions of the road remain under construction.
Incomplete Work Causes Chaos
Incomplete concretisation work, narrowed carriageways and construction material lying along the roadside are causing traffic chaos. Motorists navigating the junction said the condition of the road below sharply contrasts with the visually striking elevated rotary above, which has become a prominent architectural feature in the city.
NHAI Official's Statement
Speaking to TOI, a senior NHAI official said a substantial portion of the roadwork below the rotary has already been completed. "Around 80% to 90% of the work below the rotary is complete. We have not yet opened the newly concretised roads because the curing process is still underway. The remaining work will be completed within the next 15 to 20 days, after which traffic movement is expected to become smooth," the official said.
Despite these assurances, commuters remain skeptical as daily delays and hazardous conditions persist. The incomplete stretches force vehicles to slow down abruptly, increasing the risk of accidents and adding to travel time. Residents and regular users of the junction have urged authorities to expedite the work and ensure proper traffic management during the remaining construction period.
