Nagpur: After a long four-month wait, Nagpur’s new bridge near the Ambazari overflow point will officially open for traffic today, October 11, at 4 PM. According to a notification issued by the Traffic Branch of Nagpur City Police, the bridge will be open for two-wheeler traffic, but heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks, are temporarily banned from using the bridge. A speed limit of 20 km/h has also been imposed as a safety measure.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Archit Chandak confirmed that traffic would flow from Gajanan Maharaj Temple to Ambazari T-point. However, only one side of the bridge is operational, with the second side expected to open within the next 15 days. For now, the bridge will handle two-way traffic on the completed section.
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Tuesday 12 Nov. 2024
Restrictions for Safety and Efficiency
The ban on heavy vehicles is a temporary measure due to the narrow width of the bridge and ongoing construction. Railings have been placed to allow for the safe movement of two-wheelers, but authorities are cautious about permitting larger vehicles until the full bridge is operational. “The speed limit is in place to prevent mishaps during simultaneous up-and-down movement on the bridge,” said DCP Chandak.
Local commuters have been eagerly awaiting the bridge’s opening, as its closure forced many to take long detours. The administration had temporarily opened a route through the VNIT campus, but this was far from ideal.
Long-Awaited Development After Floods
The new bridge replaces an older structure that was demolished due to its low height, which hindered water flow during monsoon floods. The devastation caused by the September 23, 2023, floods prompted the administration to expedite construction of the new bridge. The Naag River channel, which runs near the bridge, has also been widened and deepened to prevent future flooding.
While the bridge’s opening is a major step forward, other flood prevention measures remain incomplete, including the reconstruction of the Naag River’s retaining wall. The current traffic arrangements on the bridge are expected to be in place until November 10, 2024, with hopes that the full bridge will be completed by then.
