Sewer Work Chokes Traffic At Divisional Commissionerate Complex

Nagpur: The sprawling Divisional Commissionerate complex in Civil Lines, which houses several key govt offices, including the revenue department, zilla parishad, collectorate and the office of the divisional commissioner, is witnessing worsening traffic congestion as almost half of an internal road has been dug up for ongoing sewer line works.The complex struggles with inadequate parking and a heavy daily influx of officials, staff members, advocates and citizens seeking govt services. With one side of the carriageway excavated for sewer work, the remaining usable stretch has become too narrow for smooth two-way movement. Vehicles entering and exiting the premises often have to wait for the other to pass, creating long queues that spill into adjoining internal roads."I came to submit land-related documents and spent nearly 20 minutes just trying to enter the complex. The road has been narrowed by the excavation, and vehicles keep getting stuck nose to nose," said Ramesh Wankhede, a resident of Kamptee."People come here for revenue, pension and certificate work. Many are senior citizens. There is no proper traffic guidance at the choke point. Every few minutes the traffic flow collapses, and everyone starts honking," said Meena Deshpande, another visitor. Those working at the commissionerate said that police personnel are occasionally seen inside the premises due to the presence of senior govt officials, but dedicated traffic cops are generally not posted.As a result, motorists are left to negotiate passage on their own, often leading to confusion and gridlock during peak hours. Even a Grade-1 officer, speaking to TOI on the condition of anonymity, said that it is a daily struggle. "We have built such sprawling offices, but the road to reach them remains bad," the officer said.Visitors and employees have demanded immediate temporary measures such as one-way traffic, barricaded lane segregation, deployment of traffic wardens and clear signage warning of the narrowed road ahead. They said the problem is particularly acute during morning office hours and late afternoon when both incoming visitors and departing staff converge on the same stretch.