Ajni Railway Bridge: Delays, Inefficient Funds, and Opening Challenges
Nagpur, India: The British-era bridge at Ajni railway station has exceeded its lifespan, relying on temporary iron supports to remain functional. To address this, the construction of a new cable stayed bridge began in April 2023.
The project is currently facing significant delays, primarily due to insufficient financial resources, which have caused it to remain stuck in its initial phase. What was initially planned to be completed in two phases within 600 days is now far from finished.
The old bridge has been off limits to heavy vehicles since December 7, 2019, and calls for its reconstruction have been ongoing for 15 years. The tendering process began in late 2022, and construction finally started in April 2023 after the removal of 24 shops near the Ajni side in February 2023 to make space for the apron.
The project consists of constructing a new cable stayed bridge alongside the old one in the first phase. In the second phase, the old bridge will be demolished, and another cable stayed bridge will be built. When completed, both bridges will feature three lanes each, providing a total of six lanes over a 220 meter stretch.
Even though 575 of the planned 600 days have passed, there has been no visible progress on the first phase, with the pylon and pillars still not constructed.
Commuters who still rely on the old bridge are facing major difficulties, while the construction work is progressing extremely slowly. The project has become a source of frustration for citizens, as officials at the contractor’s site office are often absent. According to sources, MRIDC (Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation) has struggled to make significant progress.
-t-thumb.jpeg)
