Ready But Shut: Dipti Signal Flyover Awaits ‘VIP Opening’

Nagpur: The much-awaited 4-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Dipti Signal has been completed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (MRIDC), or MahaRail, but continues to remain closed to the public as authorities await a formal inauguration by VIPs, leaving citizens to face traffic congestion. The MRIDC officials said the inauguration would be done soon.Constructed at railway crossing 73 — long considered one of the most congested bottlenecks between Itwari and Dighori railway stations — the 1,320-metre-long ROB is expected to significantly ease traffic movement in East Nagpur. The bridge connects Bhagwan Sambhavnath Chowk to Dipti Signal Road and is part of a larger plan to eliminate railway level crossings and ensure smoother urban mobility being carried out under the supervision of MahaRail's managing director Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal.Despite the project being ready for a few months, commuters continue to face daily traffic snarls, leading to growing frustration. Residents have questioned why the bridge cannot be opened for immediate use when all construction work has been completed. "This is not the first time such delays have occurred due to VIP inauguration protocols," a local pointed out.A similar scenario occurred with the Wadi flyover. After TOI carried a report, the flyover was opened to the public on a trial basis while the official inauguration was carried out later.Citizens are now demanding a similar approach for the Dipti Signal ROB. Many have urged MahaRail to open the bridge on a trial basis to provide relief to motorists, and conduct the official inauguration once VIP schedules are finalised.Officials said the ROB is a key infrastructure project developed under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) at a cost of Rs 151 crore. Designed as a 4-lane high-capacity corridor, the structure also includes a connection towards Kalamna Road, which is still under construction, along with a roundabout at the merging point to streamline traffic flow.MahaRail authorities highlighted that the project aligns with the vision of CM Devendra Fadnavis to make Maharashtra "railway fatak mukt" by eliminating level crossings and reducing congestion.Once opened, the ROB is expected to eliminate gate delays entirely, improve travel time, and enhance road safety in the area. However, until the inauguration takes place, the fully constructed bridge remains out of bounds for the very commuters it was built to serve.
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