Flyover Work, Unpaved Stretches Choke East Nagpur; Daily Gridlock Hits Key Junctions

Nagpur: Narrowed roads, incomplete concretisation work and non-functional traffic signals amid ongoing flyover construction have turned several key stretches in East Nagpur into daily choke points, with commuters enduring long snarls during peak hours.The worst-affected areas include Jagannath Chowk, Gangabai Ghat Chowk, and connecting stretches from Central Avenue, Nandanvan, Reshimbagh Square, Zenda Chowk, and KDK College.At multiple locations, one side of the road has been concretised while the other remains uneven, unpaved, and strewn with loose gravel and potholes. Barricades around construction zones have further reduced road width, particularly at Gangabai Ghat Chowk, forcing vehicles into narrow lanes and triggering frequent bottlenecks. The absence of functional traffic signals at the junction has compounded the problem, with vehicles converging simultaneously from several directions. Minor accidents and traffic jams have become common.Commuters said the situation worsens during evening rush hours when traffic builds up near Jagannath Chowk and adjoining junctions. Long queues of two-wheelers, autorickshaws, buses and private vehicles are routinely seen inching through the congested stretches."Every evening, it takes nearly 20 minutes to cross Jagannath Chowk. Large portions of the road remain unfinished, and loose gravel along the edges makes the stretch especially dangerous for two-wheelers," said Amit Meshram, a daily commuter from Nandanvan.Another commuter, Priya Wankhede, said the stretch near Gangabai Ghat Chowk has become increasingly difficult to navigate. "Traffic signals are either non-functional or poorly managed, and vehicles enter the junction from all directions at once. Barricades near the square are worsening congestion. During rush hour, even minor errors often lead to arguments or accidents," she said.While commuters acknowledged that the flyover project could improve connectivity in the long run, they said inadequate traffic management and unfinished road surfaces are causing severe inconvenience at present. They demanded smoother temporary roads, functional traffic signals and better coordination between construction agencies and traffic police to ease congestion.Sakkardara traffic zone PI Atul Mohankar said traffic personnel are regularly deployed at the spot during morning hours. "However, if we receive information about specific timings or locations where congestion is severe, we will take necessary action," he said.