Three Days to Urs: Crater-Filled Tajbagh Road Poses Threat to Lakhs of Devotees
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Nagpur: With just three days left for the annual Urs festival at revered Hazarat Baba Tajuddin Dargah in Tajbagh, the condition of the main approach road continues to pose a serious risk to the lakhs of devotees expected to visit.
The ongoing construction of a flyover along the stretch has left the road riddled with potholes, craters, and uneven surfaces, causing major inconvenience and danger to both motorists and pedestrians.
A visit by TOI on Monday revealed that the road condition has deteriorated drastically. Large parts of the road are damaged, and the usable width has significantly reduced due to barricading and construction material, leading to frequent traffic jams.
The road repair currently falls under the purview of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is currently building a 2.2-km-long flyover from Bhande Plot Square to Dighori. This flyover is part of the larger Rs998 crore project stretching from Indora to Dighori. The project includes two major flyovers — Kamal Chowk to Reshimbagh Square, and Bhande Plot to Dighori — meant to ease congestion in North and South Nagpur.
However, since work on the Bhande Plot-Dighori flyover began, the condition of the road underneath worsened considerably. The stretch sees heavy daily traffic as it passes through a busy marketplace, the Tajbagh, and a nearby college.
Taj Ahmed Raja, secretary of Hazarat Baba Tajuddin Trust, raised serious concerns over the safety of devotees. "The road is in poor condition because of the flyover work. During Urs, lakhs of devotees visit Tajbagh and they will be at risk if the road is not repaired urgently.
On July 22, Shahi Sandal will pass from the road and thousands will participate in it, they too will be at risk if the road is not repaired," said Raja.
He added that the issue was taken up in recent review meetings chaired by police commissioner Ravinder Singal. "The CP warned that if any mishap happens because of bad road conditions, then NHAI officials would be booked. He also asked NMC and MSEDCL officials to repair the street lights which are currently non-functional," Raja stated.
Adding to the concern, a local resident said that traffic congestion between Bhande Plot Square and Dighori has become a daily ordeal. "Every day minor accidents are being reported on the road and traffic jams have become common since the flyover work started. People regularly using the road have become frustrated," the local said.
When contacted, an NHAI official confirmed that repair works will be undertaken before the Urs begins, offering some hope to the thousands preparing to attend the religious event.
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