Construction of two railway underbridges at Pachpaoli in Nagpur has begun, but the work is expected to intensify congestion around Daga Hospital Square as railway crossings and nearby roads remain restricted for the duration of the project.
The National Highways Authority of India has started the long-pending Pachpaoli railway underbridge work nearly two months after the Rs998-crore Indora-Dighori flyover was opened to traffic. The two underbridges were part of the original flyover project but were not completed before the elevated corridor was inaugurated in September.
The underpasses are intended to remove recurring delays at railway crossings 571 and 572. Motorists currently face long waits when the gates close for train movements, creating traffic queues on roads connecting central Nagpur neighbourhoods. The new structures are expected to provide a route beneath the railway tracks and reduce dependence on level crossings once construction is completed.
The immediate concern is the effect of the work on traffic near Daga Hospital. Residents said motorists travelling between Kamal Chowk, Itwari, Mahal and adjoining localities would have fewer practical alternatives while the crossings are closed. With vehicles expected to rely more heavily on the flyover, pressure could increase at its entry and exit ramps near Daga Hospital.
The closure of Motibagh Road has further reduced route choices in the area. Local residents have opposed the construction because of the disruption they expect during the work. The project is now proceeding despite those objections, with the construction period estimated at three to four months.
NHAI had initially proposed building the flyover and the railway underbridges simultaneously. That plan was not approved by the traffic police at the time. Then deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Archit Chandak had denied permission for concurrent construction, citing the lengthy detours motorists would have been required to take.
Following the objection, NHAI revised its execution sequence. It first demolished the existing Pachpaoli flyover and constructed the new elevated corridor, leaving the railway underbridges for a later stage. The sequencing allowed the flyover to be opened before the underbridge work began, but it has also left the city managing another period of disruption in the same transport corridor.
The current work places particular pressure on the connection between the flyover, Daga Hospital Square and the surrounding roads. The impact will depend on how traffic is managed around the closed crossings and the available alternative routes during the estimated three-to-four-month construction period. NHAI’s next stated milestone is the completion of the two Pachpaoli railway underbridges.
