Kamptee Road Flyover Ready for Traffic: NHAI to Decide on Inauguration
The much-awaited Kamptee Road Flyover, one of the most ambitious and challenging construction projects in the city, is nearing its completion. Located in Nagpur, this double-decker viaduct is a marvel of modern engineering, set to relieve the city’s traffic congestion significantly. With final touches being applied to the ramp at LIC Square, the project, touted as Asia’s longest double-decker viaduct, is poised to be a game-changer for the city’s commuters.
The Landmark Project: A Brief Overview
Asia’s Longest Double-Decker Viaduct
At 5.4 kilometers in length, the Kamptee Road flyover stretches from LIC Square to Automotive Square. This impressive structure combines a flyover and a metro route, creating a multi-layer transport system. The flyover is one of a kind due to its four-layer transport arrangement at Gaddigodam, which features:
- National Highway at the lowest deck.
- Delhi Train Line on the first deck.
- Flyover on the third deck.
- Metro Viaduct at the topmost level.
This multi-layered structure adds a unique complexity to its design and construction, making it one of the most challenging projects ever undertaken in the region.
Delays and Design Modifications
The project experienced significant delays, largely due to changes in the design mid-way through the construction. Initially, the flyover ramp was planned to start just before Gaddigodam Square, but a representation citing the presence of a school, religious institutions, a hospital, and a bank led to a redesign. The landing was then pushed towards LIC Square, requiring additional land acquisition for smooth vehicular movement.
This land was finally acquired by Maha Metro in July 2024, allowing them to move towards completing the project.
Who Benefits from the Kamptee Road Flyover?
The new flyover is expected to provide much-needed relief to commuters traveling along the Nagpur-Jabalpur highway. Here’s how:
Ease of Movement for Commuters
Once inaugurated, the flyover will enable uninterrupted and dedicated vehicular movement, primarily benefiting commuters heading toward Kamptee. It will help avoid the long queues at traffic signals, significantly reducing travel time along this busy route. However, the flyover will still leave some intersections—such as Kadbi Square—where traffic might still experience a bottleneck.
Reduction in Traffic Chaos
Kamptee Road is a densely populated area, which means the highway below the flyover experiences constant heavy traffic, particularly during peak hours. The flyover is expected to alleviate some of this congestion, allowing for smoother and more efficient movement.
Challenges During Construction
Gaddigodam Railway Bridge: A Daunting Task
One of the most complicated aspects of this construction was navigating the live railway line at Gaddigodam. Here, two decks were constructed above the Gaddigodam railway bridge, presenting enormous challenges. The team had to carefully plan and execute the placement of an 85-meter-long, 1,600-tonne girder, ensuring the safety of the live railway line below.
Prolonged Delays Due to the Pandemic
Like many other projects worldwide, the Kamptee Road flyover construction was significantly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a two-year halt in the middle of construction, the timeline stretched longer than anticipated. However, with the recent acquisition of land at the LIC Square end, the project is now finally ready to open for traffic.
The NHAI’s Role in the Inauguration
Although Maha Metro was responsible for executing the project, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will decide the final date for its inauguration. As per Deputy General Manager Akhilesh Halve, Maha Metro is in the final stages of completing minor works and will soon hand over the flyover to NHAI.
The public eagerly awaits the official opening, which could happen soon after NHAI’s decision.
The Problem of Access: A Puzzle Yet to be Solved
While the flyover is complete, one significant problem remains unresolved: access to the flyover. Currently, the administration has blocked vehicular movement from RBI towards LIC Square. As a result, commuters wanting to travel from Samvidhan Square to Kamptee will still have to navigate heavy traffic and gridlock at Bishop Cotton Square and Liberty Talkies T-point.
This issue arises from the landing of the Residency Road flyover opposite Kasturchand Park, which has created a major bottleneck. Commuters have to take a roundabout route, passing the Residency Road flyover and Liberty Talkies T-point, before reaching LIC Square—a detour of about 1.5 kilometers. During peak hours, this route is jammed, as the space is barely adequate for the volume of traffic, exacerbating the gridlock.
Addressing the Kasturchand Park Gridlock
One of the critical points of concern is the Kasturchand Park gridlock, where heavy traffic already causes jams, worsened by the new flyover’s opening. The authorities need to come up with a solution quickly, or the LIC Square ramp could worsen traffic conditions rather than alleviate them.
Possible solutions include expanding the road network near Kasturchand Park, rerouting bus stops, and enhancing traffic management systems to ensure smoother movement of vehicles.
The completion of the Kamptee Road flyover marks a significant milestone for Nagpur’s infrastructure, promising a much-needed reprieve from the city’s infamous traffic jams. However, unresolved access issues and bottlenecks at key intersections like Residency Road and Liberty Talkies T-point mean that the benefits may be limited unless the authorities act quickly to address these challenges. As the NHAI prepares to finalize the date of inauguration, all eyes are on whether this engineering marvel will live up to its potential as a traffic reliever or face criticism due to unresolved access issues.
1. When will the Kamptee Road flyover be inaugurated?
The exact date is yet to be decided by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
2. What is the length of the Kamptee Road flyover?
The flyover stretches 5.4 kilometers from LIC Square to Automotive Square.
3. What makes this flyover unique?
It is Asia’s longest double-decker viaduct, featuring a four-layer transport system at Gaddigodam.
4. What are the challenges associated with the flyover’s construction?
The biggest challenge was constructing two decks above the Gaddigodam railway bridge while maintaining a live railway line.
5. How will the flyover help reduce traffic congestion?
The flyover will provide an uninterrupted route for commuters, reducing traffic bottlenecks on the busy Kamptee Road.
