In a significant relief for Nagpur's daily commuters, one side of the vital Lohapul underpass near Cotton Market was finally reopened for vehicular traffic on Friday. The move comes after a period of complete closure that had severely choked one of the city's most congested stretches to facilitate crucial railway infrastructure work.
Essential Work Leads to Inevitable Shutdown
The underpass had been entirely shut down to allow the Indian Railways to lay two additional railway lines on the Nagpur–Ajni route. Traffic police officials confirmed that the shutdown was unavoidable after the railways formally sought permission to block the structure. A senior traffic officer emphasized the dilemma, stating, "The old underpass is a lifeline for this part of the city. Closing it for even a single day disrupts the commute for thousands of motorists. However, the railway-line expansion is essential development work, and public cooperation was necessary."
Commuters Breathe a Sigh of Relief
For regular users of the route, the partial reopening has brought immense respite. The complete closure had turned the already burdened Cotton Market Square into a nightmare of bumper-to-bumper snarls, with vehicles crawling through the area throughout the day.
Rahul Patil, a commuter traveling from Ganeshpeth to Sitabuldi for work, shared his experience: "A few days ago, I wasted nearly 40 minutes just trying to cross Cotton Market Square. Today, with at least one lane operational, it feels like the traffic is finally breathing again."
Another frequent commuter, Manjula Deshpande, who uses the route to drop her children for classes in Sitabuldi, highlighted the chaos caused by the sudden closure. "There was a lack of clear prior information. We would reach the barricades and then suddenly have to scramble for a long detour. It was utterly chaotic. At least now one side is moving, which makes a monumental difference in our daily routine," she said.
Regulated Flow and Future Timeline
Despite the partial reopening, traffic police personnel remain deployed at the site to regulate the flow and prevent new bottlenecks from forming. Officials have clarified that the second side of the Lohapul underpass will remain closed until the railways complete the ongoing work on the new tracks. However, authorities have not yet announced a definitive timeline for the full restoration of the underpass.
The reopening, even if partial, marks a critical step in easing the severe congestion that had become a daily ordeal for thousands of Nagpurians, underscoring the delicate balance between essential urban development and maintaining smooth public mobility.
