19 months on, faulty Kawarapeth flyover still a mess, turns hub for anti-social activities

Nagpur: Nearly 19 months after its completion, the T-shaped Kawrapeth flyover, built by the Public Works Department (PWD), has become a civic liability rather than a traffic solution, with its narrow width and flawed design continuing to trouble motorists.Structurally completed in Sept 2024, the flyover was intended to ease congestion at the busy Kawrapeth railway crossing. Instead, residents say poor planning and incomplete connectivity have left parts unusable, while some portions have become hotspots for anti-social activities.TOI had first exposed the faulty design last year, prompting criticism from politicians and experts alike. Residents allege that the non-operational arms — particularly those meant to connect to the old Kawrapeth flyover — have been effectively abandoned. "Barricades made of stones are now damaged, and the area has turned into a hub for liquor consumption and gatherings of anti-social elements," said resident Vicky Kamble.The operational arm connecting to the Shanti Nagar flyover, which sees heavy traffic, is another major concern. Despite repeated complaints, locals say no corrective steps have been taken. "Months have passed since the issue was flagged, the flyover is still accident-prone and puts lives at risk," said Ayush Kalbande.The 1.09-km rail overbridge (ROB), built at a cost of Rs 141.62 crore against an administrative approval of Rs 180 crore, was designed to link the Shanti Nagar–Rajiv Nagar and Kawrapeth flyovers without a landing. However, experts and motorists have flagged serious flaws, including inadequate width, lack of U-turn provisions, and confusing traffic movement at merging points.The flyover originates from Kalamna Road, crosses two railway lines, and splits into three arms. Two were meant to connect to the Itabhatti–Kalamna (old Kawrapeth) flyover but remain sealed due to pending design changes suggested by the traffic department. The third arm, linking to the Shanti Nagar flyover, has become a congestion bottleneck due to poor merging design.An extension connecting the Kalamna–Rajiv Nagar stretch to the Shanti Nagar flyover was opened in April last year — without formal inauguration — under pressure from residents and political representatives. However, commuters say the partial opening has only added to confusion, with inadequate signage and constrained movement.Following completion — delayed by a year — a joint inspection by traffic police officials, including then DCP (Traffic) Archit Chandak, flagged multiple safety and design issues, delaying permission for full-scale operations. A subsequent safety audit reportedly confirmed these deficiencies.With key sections still inaccessible and no clear timeline for rectification, the flyover continues to fall far short of its purpose. Residents and commuters are now demanding urgent intervention to fix safety risks and prevent misuse of idle infrastructure before the situation deteriorates further.