Govt approves new cable-stayed ROB in Ajni at Rs.326.53 cr

Nagpur: The Maharashtra government on Monday gave in-principle approval for a new Railway Over Bridge (ROB) at Ajni.

Only after a meeting with officials, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted that the colonial-era Ajni ROB built in 1927 would be converted into a 220-meter-long cabled ROB. “The project is worth around Rs 326.53 crore. The new cable stay bridge will significantly reduce the traffic jam in this area and will also add to the beauty of the city. They said, adding that he had also directed the officials to start the work immediately.

Earlier, the NMC on Monday had also approached the government for administrative approval to replace the existing railway over the bridge with an eight-lane cable-stayed bridge and an elliptical rotary junction.

After completely scrapping the Inter Model Station (IMS) project at Ajni, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) submitted the revised development project report of Ajni ROB in its entirety to Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The civic body is demanding money from the state government.

“The project has almost been finalized and the NMC has also just submitted the revised development project report in full to the government,” Nagpur Municipal Corporation commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI.

NHAI had already submitted the Structural Audit Report prepared by VNIT

At present, in view of its dilapidated condition, the movement of very heavy vehicles has been banned on the bridge and poles have been installed to implement it.

The civic body has also approached the Central Railway and the government health department as it is in dire need of additional possession of 1.58 hectares of land. About 10 meters wide railway land is also included. We have also requested both these agencies to give NOC for our land, They said. Even if this process is completed, then the NMC also intends to start work as soon as it gets the approval of the government, the civic chief clarified.

NHAI had already submitted the Structural Audit Report prepared by VNIT and the opinion of the Railway Department regarding the dire need for the existing ROB structure and also the substantial need for its replacement.

Apart from replacing the existing railway over the bridge, the revised DPR of NHAI also includes improvement in its west side traffic, Which connects three roads – Rahate Colony, FCI Godown, and Ajni station.

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