
Pachpaoli Flyover demolition halted as NHAI waits for railways' permission
1
2
Nagpur: The ongoing demolition work of the decades-old Pachpaoli flyover, which will be replaced by a new, longer one, has hit a roadblock. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), which is implementing the project, is awaiting permission from the railways to demolish the flyover over the two railway lines.
The flyover demolition was supposed to be completed this month but is likely to stretch for the next one to two months.
The NHAI is currently implementing the Rs998
Indora to Dighori project
, under which two flyovers will be built. The first flyover would start just ahead of Kamal Square and would pass through congested squares like Golibar Square, Lal Imli Square, Agrasen Square, Gandhi Gate, and Ashok Square before landing ahead of Reshimbagh Square.
For this, the decades-old 1.5-km-long Pachpaoli flyover is being demolished. The second 2.2 km long flyover would start before the Bhande Plot Square and would land ahead of Dighori Square.
The NHAI started the demolition work last month and was supposed to complete it within a month. However, their plan has hit a snag. "We have so far demolished the flyover till the railway crossing. But to demolish it over the railway crossing, we need the train movement to stop.
For this, we have written to the railways, and they have asked us for a plan, which we have submitted. Until the railways give us permission, the demolition work will be halted.
We are not demolishing the flyover from Golibar Chowk side as we need a route for the heavy vehicles to go on the flyover for the demolition work," said a senior NHAI official.
While the NHAI awaits permission from the railways, they have started the piling work on the already demolished side for installing piers of the new flyover.
Meanwhile, tons of debris continue to lie on the roadside, and NHAI is systematically disposing it of. The NHAI hopes to complete the work of the Kamal Chowk to Reshimbagh flyover by December this year, even as their deadline is June next year. However, one hiccup after another continues to stall the work.
Meanwhile, citizens in the area are hoping that the new flyover is built at the earliest, as it will cut travel time from North Nagpur to South Nagpur drastically. As part of the project, two RUBs will also be built at two level crossings in the Pachpaoli area, but this will start after the completion of the flyover.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Public Action Committee cracks whip over green norms violations on Ludhiana-Kharar stretch of National Highway-5.
Ludhiana: The Public Action Committee (PAC) on Wednesday served notice to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the forest department, and others for "blatant violation" of National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms regarding development of green areas along the national highway from Ludhiana to Kharar (NH-5). Besides NHAI and the state forest department, PAC also served a legal notice to the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH) and the chief town planner of the department of country and town planning, Punjab, against such violations of NGT directions, the Green Highway Policy of 2015, and the IRC Code for the development of green areas along the same national highway, also known as Chandigarh Road. Engineer Kapil Arora and Dr Amandeep Singh Bains of PAC said the development of the 4-6 lane Chandigarh Road started in 2016-17, and a major portion was completed by 2021-22 with a capital cost of more than Rs 2000 crore. They added that there was no construction zone of 30 metres along the national highway outside MC limits and five metres within MC limits in Punjab since 1995, and such areas were to be developed as greenbelts by planting saplings. "However, many commercial outlets near Kohara, Morinda, and Khamano have come up in the recent past without leaving adequate space for plantation, and the NHAI as well as the forest department, both allowed 100% wide access to such commercial and industrial buildings. Further, many buildings have come up within 30 metres in active connivance with NHAI and the forest department," they alleged. Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Engineer Jaskirat Singh said the NGT had already directed the NHAI to plant trees within 30 metres from the end of the right of way along all national highways, and the forest department had been made the nodal agency to maintain green areas. "It was mandatory for the NHAI to acquire land for necessary plantation, but failed to do so, resulting in a gross violation of green norms. Though the NHAI planted saplings in some stretches, the width of the strip is also much less than 30 metres," they added. They also alleged that new projects were being developed on this national highway, and a 5.50-metre-wide service lane was to be developed along the national highway, for which a large number of old trees and newly planted saplings by the NHAI had been felled. The PAC members further alleged that the entire front width of such projects had been cleared of existing trees, and the areas were being developed as lawns, which is also against the directions of the National Green Tribunal. Preet Dhanoa and Colonel Jasjit Singh Gill alleged that despite knowing about the directions by the NGT, the Green Highway Policy, and the provisions of the IRC Code, the town planning department of Punjab was deliberately approving plans with service lanes within 30 metres, whereas there was ample space available outside the change of land use (CLU) boundary of these projects, which could have been used for the development of the service road. They claimed that with more projects in the future, saplings planted by the NHAI and the forest department would be axed too for the service road. "Thus, the NHAI and the forest departments are giving permission for the construction of service lanes by going against the NGT directions and green norms," they alleged. The PAC members added that as per Clause 1.4 of IRC-SP-21:2009, to ensure the availability of sufficient width for avenue plantation, the requirement of land for tree plantation should be assessed and included in the land acquisition plans prepared for a highway widening project. They added that the NHAI failed to acquire the land for plantation, which was mandatory as per IRC norms. "Accordingly, we have served notice upon all authorities to act within the next 15 days to clear the encroachments done by commercial outlets/eatery points within a 30-metre distance from the NH and start planting saplings of native trees thereafter. Further, as a precautionary principle, the town planning department must act and redesign the service lane to protect the remaining trees as well as the saplings planted by the NHAI," PAC said, adding that in case no action was initiated in the next 15 days, it would move the NGT with a plea to impose environment compensation on the NHAI as well as for sustainable development.


Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Vishwamitri river project: Expert panel flags concern over ‘obstructions' due to Expressway, bullet train projects
A committee of environmental experts formed to supervise the ongoing desilting and dredging project of Vishwamitri river along its approximately 50-km course has raised concerns over 'obstructions' in the water flow due to ongoing projects of the National Highway Authority of India's Mumbai-Delhi Expressway as well as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor or the bullet train project, both in close proximity to the river course, according to a report. The development comes two months after the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) directed two departments — Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), responsible for the project in the city limit, and the Narmada and Water Resources, Water Supply (NWRWS) and Kalpsar Department which supervises it in district areas — to rope in the expert committee. The report submitted by the committee, which was made public on Tuesday, states that since the intervention activity of the VMC and Irrigation Departments are limited to the riverbanks of Vishwamitri River and not in the floodplain areas that include ravines, wetlands, oxbows and so on, 'The focus of this initiative seems to be to remove only 'silt and soil'… removal of debris and municipal solid waste should be the priority and focus to rejuvenate the river system… In the present scenario, the dumping of untreated and partially treated sewage in the context of river pollution has not been addressed towards the rejuvenation of the river.' The report, especially points at the works undertaken by NHAI related to expansion of surface and bridges of the existing National Highway (NH) 48 as well as the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway, which has caused temporary, semi-temporary and permanent obstructions at some locations, stating that 'obstructions in the riverine areas and natural storm water ways that impede the effective flow of water…' The report further states, 'The completed works related to the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway (Bharuch-Vasad stretch) by NHAI have created permanent obstructions in natural flow of water during the rains from east to west. This creates a bottleneck situation at Dhadhar river near Sadad village of Vadodara district, and impedes the effective flow of water. As a result of this, the surrounding villages were also waterlogged in the monsoon of 2024. These impediments were not addressed proactively and in a timely manner by the concerned authorities, who were then repeatedly asked to share their action plans, which have not yet been received.' The committee had also pointed out that the ongoing Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project also 'has constructed their pillars at multiple locations in the river bed, on the river banks and active flood plains of the Vishwamitri River' that resulted in incomplete works of desilting and bank stabilisation. The report states, 'During our meetings, it was conveyed to us that a linear infrastructure railway project does not require environmental clearances. The various required permissions that were sought and received by them are awaited. The remedial plans for these obstructions were not addressed proactively and in a timely manner…' In a supplementary report submitted by the committee, after the NHSRCL reply was received, the committee said, 'The desilting and bank stabilization works that were unable to be completed by the VMC and the irrigation departments in their respectives sections due to the ongoing work of the bullet train, will be undertaken by the NHSRCL…' In its reply to the VMC on May 21, the NHSRCL submitted 10 documents that included Exemption from EC (Environmental Clearance) and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) to railway projects, Right of Use Permission for Vishwamitri River, Cross section detail of all Vishwamitri River crossings, Note on action plan for clearance of temporary structures and post-construction restoration, superimposition of the Vishwamitri Alignment Plan with MAHSR (Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail) pier location on the flood plain map, among others. The NHSRCL also shared a crocodile protection management plan. The letter, signed by Akshaya Kumar, Chief Project Manager of Surat, said, 'We affirm that all construction activities undertaken within the Vishwamitri River are in compliance with applicable norms and regulations…' In its report, the committee has also pointed out the reason for waterlogging in the city areas without the impact of river flood. The report states, 'Ad-hoc re carpeting of roads in the absence of topographic considerations have led to an increase of road levels, resulting in waterlogging during rainy days…The aquifer — confined and unconfined — and the subsurface flow data need to be acquired and analysed to resolve sinkholes and waterlogging…' Rohit Prajapati of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti — the organisation that had moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Bench, questioning the activities planned by the VMC as part of the project in 2016 — told The Indian Express, 'Without keeping in mind the contour of the city, the road height has been increased in various parts of the city, which is obstructing the waterways and inviting internal flooding.' Prajapati is also a part of the committee appointed to ensure that the May 2021 order of NGT, which had issued directions of implementation of the 'Vishwamitri River Action Plan', including steps for removal of unauthorised structures, demarcation and protection of flood plain zone and other action points as per the river restoration plan, were to be followed. Prajapati added: 'The paver blocks laid on several roads and sidewalks have also obstructed aquifers and the flow of water under the surface… This can be remedied by undertaking water recharging at a city level and not just in isolated spots.' Stating that the present project of desilting 'may reduce the flood risk', Prajapati said, 'The flood from Vishwamitri may reduce as it cannot be denied that the carrying capacity of the river has increased but the intervention is limited to the riverbank and the flood plain has not been considered. The aspect of removal of debris outside the bank, especially encroachments is an issue. At many places the vegetation from the bank has been removed unnecessarily and it may lead to erosion of the bank.' The committee also pointed out that a lack of coordination between the VMC and the Irrigation Department has caused a lag in the widening of the confluence point of the Vishwamitri with Dhadhar river at Jambuva. The report also states that the officials have concluded that 'it is not manually possible to divert the water at Ajwa reservoir below 211 feet and therefore, the proposed work on the spillway has not begun at Ajwa'. VMC Commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu told this newspaper that the civic body had taken up the issue with the NHAI regarding the obstructions. Babu said, 'The NHAI had to clear obstructions from approximately 70 places, of which they claim to have completed 36 sites. However, since it has not been to our satisfaction, I have taken up the issue with the Gujarat NHAI officials. They have cited an issue with the contract, but we have asked them to resolve their problem and clear the obstruction… The VMC is as concerned about this as the committee…' Babu said that the VMC has also asked the NHAI to make culverts under the roads of the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway to allow flow of water and also clean the canals that are located along the project. Babu added that the NHSRCL has assured that it would clear six sites within the VMC limits, where the obstruction is present, by July. 'The NHSRCL has been willing to comply and also responded positively and so, by July the places where there is an obstruction will be clear,' Babu said. The VMC Commissioner added that the civic body has taken up the issue of expediting the work being undertaken by the Irrigation Department outside the jurisdiction of Vadodara city. Babu said, 'We have raised the issue with the irrigation department to ensure that the work on the confluence point in Jambuva is done in accordance with the recommendations of the Navalawala committee. They had cited some land acquisition issues and we took it up with the District Collector, who has assured that the matter will be resolved. So, hopefully, this work will be expedited.' The SHRC was hearing a matter pertaining to the safety of the citizens of Vadodara and their properties in the city, which was 'of utmost importance'. The SHRC had taken cognisance of a report in The Indian Express dated August 30, 2024, titled 'Name Change, DPR and 14 years later, Vishwamitri revamp still on paper', published following the floods witnessed in Vadodara last year. The report highlighted that although the state government had announced a new project at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore to mitigate the floods in Vadodara city, the VMC and other authorities had delayed implementation of the Vishwamitri river project, first tabled in 2008, despite appointing multiple consultants and rechristening the project on two occasions in the past. According to the SHRC order dated April 1, the VMC and the NWRWS were directed to appoint the expert team, which will now comprise Environmental and Urban Planner Neha Sarwate, Environment Activist, Researcher, and Writer Rohit Prajapati, PhD, Zoologist Dr Ranjitsinh Devkar, Botanist Dr Jitendra Gavali and Architect and Urban Planner Mitesh Panchal. The SHRC directed the VMC as well as the Irrigation Department to ensure a visit by the team of environmental experts every 15 days as well as a review meeting with the Municipal Commissioner and District Collector. A report is to be submitted to the SHRC following the exercise.


Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
NHAI plants over 1,000 trees on Environment Day
Nagpur: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planted over 1,000 trees at different locations in the city and outskirts to celebrate World Environment Day on Thursday. NHAI planted trees along the roads under its jurisdiction, including national highways and also at open spaces across the district. An NHAI official said that such drives are carried out regularly and especially every year on World Environment Day.