Nagpur: With less than 15 days left before the June 30 deadline for the Rs998-crore Indora-Dighori Flyover project, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has stepped up efforts to complete critical pending works. While the original deadline appears difficult to meet, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the flyover will be opened to traffic by August 1, effectively extending the deadline by a month and raising hopes of relief for motorists on some of Nagpur's busiest traffic corridors.
Officials, however, said only the main flyover stretches are likely to be opened by then, with some ancillary works continuing thereafter. The biggest hurdle remains the installation of a 60-metre-long open web girder over Level Crossing (LC) 570 at Pachpaoli, a key component required to connect the remaining portions of the flyover across railway tracks.
"We have already completed the 30-metre steel girder over LC 572. The open web girder for LC 570 is currently being assembled and will be launched once the Railways provide the required traffic blocks," an official said. NHAI is also awaiting railway approvals for third-party inspections and traffic blocks needed for girder launching and related works. Officials said the authority has sought a total of 38 hours of railway blocks, though contractors typically complete such operations in considerably less time.
The project, among the city's most complex infrastructure works, passes through densely populated and congested localities. It comprises two flyovers — the first connecting Kamal Chowk and Reshimbagh Square, and the second linking Bhande Plot Square and Dighori Naka. The existing Sakkardara Flyover has been retained and integrated into the design.
"Opening the flyover by August 1 would be a major achievement. Executing a project of this scale through one of the city's most congested stretches, while securing multiple railway approvals and accommodating design modifications, is a challenging task," said an expert associated with the project.
The first flyover, nearly 4km long, begins ahead of Kamal Chowk and passes over Golibar Square, Lal Imli Square, Agrasen Square, Gandhi Gate and Ashok Square. The project also involved demolition and reconstruction of the old Pachpaoli Flyover.
The structure descends just before the existing Sakkardara Flyover, which was retained as it was constructed only a few years ago. The second flyover, about 2.2km long, starts beyond Sakkardara Flyover at Bhande Plot Square and extends past Dighori Naka on Umred Road.
According to officials, the Bhande Plot-Dighori stretch is structurally complete, with installation of streetlights currently in progress. The up and down ramps near Bada Tajbagh have also been completed, while those near Daga Hospital are expected to be ready by August 1.
After traffic is shifted to the flyovers, NHAI plans to take up construction of railway underbridges (RUBs) at the two Pachpaoli level crossings, using the elevated corridor as an alternative route during the works.
Pending Works on Indora-Dighori Flyover Project
- Assembly and installation of the 60-metre open web girder over LC-570 at Pachpaoli.
- Railway third-party inspection approval for the girder works.
- Approval and execution of 38 hours of railway traffic blocks required for girder launching.
- Completion of up and down ramps near Daga Hospital.
- Ongoing streetlight installation on sections of the Bhande Plot to Dighori flyover.
- Final finishing works, safety barriers, road marking and signage installation.
- Completion of remaining electrical and utility-related works.
- Post-opening construction of Railway Under Bridges (RUBs) at LC-570 and LC-572 for local connectivity.
