PWD's Rs9cr Project To End Chronic Waterlogging At Narendra Nagar Underpass

Nagpur: After over a decade of monsoon flooding that routinely crippled traffic at the Narendra Nagar underpass, commuters may finally see relief, with the Public Works Department (PWD) racing to complete a ₹9-crore mitigation project before the rains arrive.Work on the project, including the installation of high-capacity pumps and a massive sump system, began in December last year and is expected to be completed by June 15. Trial runs and testing of the pumping system will also be carried out before the deadline. Officials said the project was specifically designed to address recurring flooding at the underpass, one of the city's worst monsoon bottlenecks.The underpass connects Wardha Road with several south Nagpur localities, including Narendra Nagar, Manewada, and Besa. Heavy rainfall routinely submerges the stretch, forcing motorists to take long detours. Overflowing drainage lines often worsened the situation, with sewage water entering the underpass.To resolve the issue, the PWD has constructed a larger pump house and installed an upgraded pumping and sump system. Officials said three 40-horsepower pumps have already been installed, while approval has been granted for a fourth pump, which will be added shortly. The newly built sump has a storage capacity of 500 cubic metres and is expected to improve stormwater discharge during intense rainfall.Officials said the project also includes upgrades to drainage lines that frequently overflow during the monsoon.Currently, one side of the underpass between Chhatrapati Square and Narendra Nagar remains closed for construction, while the other carriageway is handling two-way traffic. Peak-hour congestion is being reported, though officials said the closed stretch is likely to reopen by June 10.With the project nearing completion ahead of the monsoon, residents and commuters are hopeful the underpass will remain flood-free after years of disruption.